Cover the Plants: Freeze Warning Issued for Dakota County

The National Weather Service is warning that temperatures will likely fall below freezing overnight between Monday and Tuesday in the Twin Cities metro area, especially in suburbs like Lakeville.

Freeze warnings are generally issued when temperatures are likely to dip below 28 degrees for more than three hours. That's the point, generally speaking, when most plants are in danger of freezing and dying.

Freezing temperatures are highly likely between 1 and 10 a.m. Tuesday morning as well as Wednesday morning, according to the weather service warning. And we're not alone. Such temperatures are likely as far south as Missouri.

“Tender, young vegetation will be most at risk,” according to the warning, “although fruit trees may also suffer some impacts.”

A simple solution to avoid plants being harmed is to cover them with a blanket, mulch, or even something as simply as crumpled up newspapers.

There's a good chance there will be another freeze warning tomorrow morning as well before temperatures climb mid-week.