Freeze warnings, frost advisories issued in North Carolina mountains this week

AVERY COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Freeze warnings and a frost advisories were issued for some Western North Carolina counties with temperatures expected to drop on Tuesday.

A freeze warning was in place for Avery and Ashe counties starting at midnight on Monday, April 20, and ending at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21. Temperatures were expected to dip as low as 28-31 degrees across the area on Tuesday morning, potentially killing crops or impacting other “sensitive vegetation,” the National Weather Service said.

Unprotected outdoor plumbing could also get damaged by the cold temperatures, according to the freeze warning.

A frost advisory was issued for the same time frame for Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell, and Rowan counties due to an anticipated cold Tuesday morning. Low temperatures were forecast to reach about 33 degrees, which could harm outdoor vegetation and plants.

Here are some steps you can take on Monday ahead of the temperature drop, according to our First Alert meteorologists:

• Bring in potted plants, or cover them before midnight.
• Drain in-ground sprinkler systems.
• Remove garden hoses and cover above-ground pipes.
• Protect any tender vegetation now.

The warning and advisory come as spring temperatures swing in the Carolinas, following a cold front that moved in last weekend. Low temperatures were expected to rise throughout the week, getting back to the 50s by the end of the week.

High temperatures in the Carolinas were expected to climb back into the 70s, and then the 80s, later this week.

Click here to see the latest First Alert weather forecast.

As temperatures warm up, however, dry conditions will persist throughout the region. Most of North and South Carolina were both experiencing varying levels of drought this year, with many regions -- including the Charlotte region -- seeing severe and extreme drought conditions, as of April.

Several communities, including Charlotte proper, were restricting water usage due to drought conditions.

---> Read more: Extreme drought in Carolinas to persist, expand over next few weeks at least