Atlanta, Georgia – A widespread St. Patrick’s Day freeze is set to grip a large stretch of the South from the Atlantic coast to Texas overnight, with sub-freezing temperatures threatening gardens, crops and exposed pipes by daybreak Tuesday.
According to National Weather Service offices across the region, freeze warnings and freeze watches cover parts of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. The coldest readings are expected inland, with temperatures dropping as low as 20 degrees in Georgia and central Mississippi, 19 degrees in parts of west Tennessee and Arkansas, 15 degrees in north Alabama and Arkansas, and upper 20s to near 31 degrees closer to the Gulf Coast and parts of the Carolinas.
The freeze zone includes major population centers and farming areas near Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Columbia, Birmingham, Jackson, Memphis, Shreveport, Alexandria, Dallas-Fort Worth, Huntsville, Mobile, Myrtle Beach and Tallahassee. In Georgia, a broad Freeze Warning runs from 11 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday. Central Alabama is under a Freeze Warning from 10 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday, while parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and east Texas also face overnight freezes into Tuesday morning.
Residents should cover tender plants, protect outdoor pets, wrap exposed plumbing and secure outdoor items where gusty winds continue Monday. More freeze alerts could remain in place into Wednesday morning for parts of the Carolinas and Georgia.
