Area residents are waking up to temperatures in the upper 30’s and low 40’s and are  bracing for freezing temperatures Wednesday morning, prompting a freeze warning from the National Weather Service. A cold front that swept through the region has opened the door for dry, northern air to flood the area, coinciding with a building high-pressure system originating from the Great Lakes. While lingering cloud cover is expected to dissipate by dawn, cooler air moving in from the northwest will send temperatures plummeting. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Northwest Georgia, anticipating temperatures to hover near freezing. Residents  are advised to protect sensitive vegetation and take precautions for pets. Despite the early morning chill, high temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to rebound, reaching the 50s and 60s. However, the brief respite from the cold will be followed by more unsettled weather. High pressure will move offshore by Wednesday night, preventing freezing temperatures on Thursday morning, with lows expected in the 40s. Rain is anticipated on Thursday as another cold front approaches the state, although the risk of severe storms is currently considered limited. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible on Friday before conditions clear up by Friday night. This will pave the way for a cooler and clearer weekend across Georgia.