The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a freeze watch in multiple Southern states as the coldest air of the season spreads through the region.
A freeze watch is typically declared by the NWS when freezing temperatures are possible within 24 to 36 hours.
Parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia are all under a freeze watch, which the NWS defines as weather conditions that could potentially drop below 32°F.
That’s compared to a freeze warning, when temperatures are expected to drop below 32°F.
Frost is also a possibility.
“A frost advisory means areas of frost are expected or occurring, posing a threat to sensitive vegetation,” the NWS states on its website.
Some 38 counties in North Carolina are also under an active freeze watch through Sunday morning, including Durham, Edgecombe, Wayne, Wake, and Wilson.
Both counties are adjacent to Alabama where a freeze watch was upgraded in Central Alabama counties to a freeze warning from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Citizens are advised to move sensitive plants indoors and to provide their pets with safe and warm housing.
A cold snap is also expected in Virginia this weekend, where a freeze watch was upgraded to a freeze warning from Saturday evening through Saturday morning.
The freeze warning covers the City of Richmond, Brunswick, Greensville, Sussex, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Chesterfield, Charles City, New Kent, E. Hanover, Essex, King and Queen, King William, and Henrico.
The NWS also expects cold air to surge in areas of Kentucky and Tennessee; however, because the local growing season has ended, formal freeze alerts have not been announced.
