The return of winter may have Michael Camaret working inside by week's end.

"It's been brutal," said Camaret, owner of American Painting and Deck Care. "Lips being chapped, ears chapped, my hands are brutally frozen."

The chill may seem more pronounced to some residents, given the recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather.

According to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, temperatures may range Thursday from a daytime high of 40 degrees to a low tonight of 12. The forecast calls for 25 mph winds during the day and wind chills below freezing overnight.

Friday doesn't look much warmer, with forecasts showing a high in the low-30s and lows approaching single digits.

A slight warm-up Sunday could mean a high in the mid-40s and low in the 20s.

Matt Sena, a meteorologist with the weather service, said there is a slight chance of precipitation Sunday.

"We're not looking at anything significant," he said. "We're in a fairly dry pattern right now."

Sena advised residents to keep up with the forecast this weekend, in case there is a chance of ice or snow.

The forecast for Monday, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, shows a high near 43 and a low in the 20s.

Despite the cold blast, Sena said January overall has a chance for slightly warmer than normal temperatures.

Camaret advised against painting outside when the weather is below 40 because it causes peeling and can "cause extreme problems down the road."

"Friday we obviously can't do any type of pressure-washing work," he said. "I'm just going to focus on interior painting on Friday. We have to focus on inside or shut down."

Forsyth County Fire Capt. Jason Shivers urged residents to use caution when keeping warm this winter.

"In cold weather one of the most important things is not being overzealous in efforts to heat homes," Shivers said.

He said residents should take precautions when using wood-burning stoves and make sure fireplaces have been cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep.

Portable electric or kerosene heaters should be monitored and never left unattended.

"Never, ever rely on candles as a heating source," he said.