Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the garden, the frosty bite of winter will be lurking overnight in Lawrence.

The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for Wednesday morning for the Lawrence area, including Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson and Shawnee counties. The weather service advises covering up new plantings or moving potted plants normally left outdoors indoors.

Latest forecast Weather radar

The weather service says a Canadian cold air mass will move in overnight. Frost is expected to form and continue until just after sunrise.

During the frost advisory, from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m., temperatures are forecasted to drop into the 33- to 38-degree range.

“Our clouds are going to decrease and our winds are going to lighten up tonight. It’s going to create a combination for some cool temperatures,” said Matt Sayers, 6News meteorologist.

Despite today’s cloud cover, Sayers said that Lawrence is expected to escape any steady rainfall throughout the evening.

“We have seen a few sprinkles throughout the day,” he said. “You might see a few sprinkles here and there, but not enough to wet the pavement by any stretch of the imagination.”

After Wednesday’s morning low drops to 33, Lawrence’s temperature will probably reach up into the upper 60s by afternoon, under partly cloudy skies, Sayers said. He said the late afternoon temperature will top off at 67, with southwest winds 5 to 12 mph.

“It will be dry through about 3 o’clock in the morning on Thursday,” he said. “And there’s a chance for showers and storms Thursday morning.”

Thursday’s morning low will be 43, with the high reaching 55 by late Thursday afternoon.