Southeast Iowa could see its first freeze tonight and precautions need to be taken to protect tender plants.  Meteorologist Bill Nichols with the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities says to put blankets or plastic over vegetation that might be susceptible to the cold temperatures.

He says this works on temperatures that might get two to five degrees below freezing.

Nichols says seeing the first freeze now is about a week later than normal.  He adds over the next ten days the dry conditions will continue with near normal temperatures.