Breezy conditions will persist through Friday evening with wind gusts as high as 35 to 40 mph possible, especially in higher terrain, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock.

Friday afternoon high temperatures will be much cooler behind the cold front. High temperatures across the state will range from the mid 40s to mid 50s across the state.

As cold Canadian air continues moving in, temperatures will plummet overnight with lows in the 20s to low 30s over the northern half of Arkansas and mid/upper 30s elsewhere.

A Freeze Watch remains in effect for Southwest Arkansas from late Friday through Saturday morning, with near-freezing temperatures as low as 34 possible tonight and into Saturday morning. A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday. Subfreezing temperatures as low as 25 are expected Saturday night.

Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage outdoor plumbing if steps aren’t taken to keep pipes and faucets from freezing.

Freezing conditions are expected to continue until midweek. Monday morning will see the last widespread hard freeze, although temperatures near freezing are likely Tuesday morning as well. Significant warming is expected mid to late week ahead of an approaching storm system. Rain and storms will increase as this system nears with flood potential also increasing. Some stronger storms may be possible, mainly late Thursday into Friday.