Weather Alert: Spring begins with freeze watches and warnings

The beginning of Spring in Georgia, and indeed the northern hemisphere, is Monday, March 20, at 5.24 p.m. But 2023 may not be the year for it to bring with it the usual warmth – at least not yet. In fact, instead it comes with more freeze warnings and watches. And, just for good measure, a high fire danger alert for Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a Freeze Warning for overnight March 18/19, added a Freeze Warning for overnight March 19/20. The Freeze Warning was for 1 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, March 19 and again for overnight Sunday evening through Monday morning. Although spring doesn’t officially kick in until late afternoon Monday, it comes with another freeze watch that is likely to progress to a warning. Weather.com is predicting a low overnight Monday into Tuesday of 28 degrees for the local area. The area includes Walton and Gwinnett as well as the surrounding counties.

For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 can be expected and for the Freeze Watch, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 are possible. The NWS warns that frost and freeze conditions “will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. It is urging people to take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold and in order to prevent bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. In addition, anyone who has in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing.