Area expects first hard freeze tonight

A weather notice from the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

A freeze warning is in effect overnight into early Friday morning for southeast Iowa, northeast Missouri and west central Illinois where a killing freeze for annual vegetation has yet to occur, but is expected tonight.

Cold Canadian high pressure will settle into the region tonight.

Clearing skies and diminishing wind will allow temperatures to drop below freezing with lows bottoming out in the lower to middle 20s.

This will result in a hard freeze that will bring an end to the growing season.

This weather warning covers the Iowa counties of Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Van Buren and Lee; Illinois counties of Henderson, Warren, Hancock and McDonough; and Missouri counties of Scotland and Clark.

The freeze warning is in effect from 1-9 a.m. Friday.

A freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely.

These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. Cover sensitive plants or bring indoors for protection.