It’s time to bring the plants indoors, and cover up anything you want to save outside and make sure any outdoor pets have a cozy and heated spot to sleep.

The first frost is likely on its way as soon as tomorrow morning in some spots, and across the county as chilly weather arrives early in Northwest Georgia this autumn.

A freeze watch is now in effect starting late Tuesday night and continues through Wednesday morning as the thermometer is expected to dip down into the upper 20s over the next couple of nights.

The warning extends as far north as Floyd County in our area, and all the way down to Troup County into central Georgia.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for the next several days calls for temperatures to dip down below freezing starting on Tuesday night, with tonight’s forecast down to just at the freezing mark.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to get up to 54, and down to 29 overnight. Wednesday is a high of 59 and a low of 28. Warmer weather will return by Friday with a high of 71 and a low of 38, and a weekend forecast of mid-70s during the day and down to the 40s at night.

Though a warmup is expected, the early chill is coming well ahead of when normal frosty weather begins in early to mid-November.

Measures should be taken now to avoid any issues with freezing overnight temperatures ahead. Sprinkler systems need to be drained, taking steps to protect plants and wrapping outdoor pipes needs to be completed as soon as possible to avoid damage and plant death.

Animals who live in barns, dog houses or outdoors should be given a heat source to stay warm during these upcoming freezing nights, or be brought indoors.

Children who will be out at bus stops early in the morning through this week will need heavy coats and to wrap up well. Forecasts also call for wind chills to make it feel colder than the just below freezing temps we’ll see over the coming days.

The reason for the chilly temperatures come behind a cold front that is bringing temperatures further south on the heels of a dip in the jet stream.

The early cold snap comes just 65 days before the official start of winter in December, just before the Christmas holidays.

Once winter begins on December 21, the general forecast is to expect a shivery, wet and slushy winter.