Sunny skies and near-40 degree temperatures Monday had Tiffani Patterson thinking of spring, but high teens forecasted for Wednesday will have her bundling up.

“It was nice to wake up to the sun,” the engineering freshman said. “But I know winter will still be here for a while.”

The Lansing area can expect a high of 15 degrees Wednesday - a drop of 23 degrees from Monday’s high of 38 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

The average high for the date is 33 degrees. Tuesday’s high is expected to be in the mid 30s.

“This is the coldest air in several seasons that is coming our way,” said William Marino, a National Weather Service meteorologist .

Marino said a disturbance in the jet stream will allow Canadian polar air to move over Michigan from Canada’s Hudson Bay. Conditions will be breezy with flurries on Wednesday.

Although the weather will be colder than normal, he said freezing weather is typical for February in Michigan, despite what area residents have grown used to.

“We have had three mild winters in a row and this winter has been fairly mild as well,” Marino said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures to rebound to near 30 by Friday.

No-preference freshman Nichole Dassance said although Monday’s sunshine woke her up for classes, but hopes temperatures remain consistent for her health.

“I wish it wouldn’t switch back and forth - from warm to cold - it makes me sick,” she said.

Dassance, a Tennessee resident, looks forward to warmer temperatures when she returns home next month.

“My friends at home have been bragging how warm it is down there,” Dassance said.

Other MSU students are also heading to warmer destinations for Spring Break.

Business freshman Steve Robinson, who hopes to escape the cold in Florida during the break, said projected windy conditions will make walking to class uncomfortable.

“I am really looking forward to spring and summer,” Robinson said. “I hope it doesn’t snow again.”

Piril Atabay also is hoping for good weather conditions.

The history teaching assistant knows lower temperatures lead to lower attendance.

“When it snows in the middle of the day and you have sections in the afternoon, students don’t show up,” Atabay said.

Poor attendance is not the only complaint that has her feeling gloomy about the weather.

“I feel like the sun will never shine sometimes.” she said.

Eric Morath can be reached at morather@msu.edu.