Cold on the way; snow flurries possible for Tuesday

The Chattanooga area is in for a chilly weekend.

As of Thursday evening, a freeze warning was in effect for surrounding areas for Saturday morning. The warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee.

“It’s going to be very cold,” said WRCB-TV Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys on Thursday.

Rain will be moving into the area Friday ahead of a cold front, followed by chillier temperatures.

Friday will see highs in the mid-50s and a low of 32, Barys said. Saturday will be sunny and cold with highs reaching 50, although some areas will stay in the 40s.

The coldest temperatures will be felt in the Cumberland Plateau and in the mountains of East Tennessee, which could see temps in the low to mid20s, according to the National Weather Service.

Sunday is going to be cold; the day will start off in the 20s and the highs could reach the mid-50s.

Barys said residents can expect to see frost Saturday night into Sunday morning. The average frost date is Nov. 7, he added.

Those freezing temperatures could damage crops or other sensitive vegetation, according to the NWS release.

If you have an outdoor plant you like, bring it in Saturday night or “kiss it goodbye,” Barys said.

And could there be snow in the future?

“The chance of flurries in some of the higher elevations is very slim Friday night,” Barys said. But “there may be a little better chance coming up Tuesday morning.”

Rain will be moving back into the area Monday and some areas in Middle Tennessee could see some of the white stuff come Tuesday.