Bundle up and protect your outdoor plants, colder weather is about to arrive in Iowa

Large parts of Iowa will see this fall's first frosty or freezing weather this week.

Frost advisories and freeze warnings will take effect early Friday for much of the state between Council Bluffs and Decorah — only the far northwest and southeast corners are spared. 

Areas north of U.S. Highway 30 are at the highest risk for freezing, according to the National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities. 

More:Are Iowans in for an especially cold and snowy winter? Here's what the 'Farmers Almanac' says.

Thursday night into Friday the frost line is basically along Interstate Highway 80 and north, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Kenny Podrazik.

Friday night into Saturday will bring colder temperatures and result in frost from Des Moines south to the Missouri border, Podrazik said. The typical date for Des Moines' first frost is Oct. 6, Podrazik said.

A cold front moved into the metro area Wednesday afternoon. 

Des Moines has had a warmer and drier than normal October. The city has an average high temperature of 63.4 degrees and an average low of 42.9 degrees, according to the NWS. Through Oct. 20 the city had an average high this month of 73.5 degrees and an average low this month of 52.6 degrees. 

More:Iowa farmers get big break with good harvest, high prices. But will their luck hold?

High temperatures in Des Moines through Saturday will be in the 50s, but lows will dip into the mid-30s. 

Des Moines typically gets its first snowfall of an inch or more on Nov. 29, Podrazik said. Last year the city's first measurable snowfall, 1.8 inches, fell Oct. 18. A snow squall the next day dropped nine inches on some parts of northern Polk County. The city typically gets 0.4 inches of snow in October, Podrazik said. 

The earliest occurrence of a trace of snow happened on Sept. 24, 1985, according to NWS records.

Cold-weather tips for your car:

• Parking in a garage, whether heated or not, will keep your car warmer than parking it outside. Even a carport keeps a car several degrees warmer than one parked outside with no protection.
• Electric engine warming blankets can be easily fitted atop your engine or on the inside of your car hood to keep your engine warm overnight, according to Lifewire.com. Other heaters include block heaters that bolt electrical elements to the exterior of the engine, oil heaters that take the place of a dipstick and coolant heaters to keep the antifreeze from, well, freezing.
• Keep jumper cables in your trunk.
• Batteries hate cold weather and produce less current, i.e. power, when temperatures plummet. If your car battery is more than three years old, have it checked out by a repair shop or auto-parts store to make sure it still holds a charge.

Cold-weather tips for your house:

• In frigid conditions, leave a faucet slowly dripping to keep water flowing through the pipe. The water can be captured in a bucket and used for other purposes around the home, like watering plants and washing dishes.
• Open under-sink cabinets to allow warm air to circulate near your pipes.
• What if there’s no water coming out of your faucets? Check your water meter. If water is leaking or spraying from your meter or the bottom is cracked, your water meter is frozen. Feel for frozen pipes. Pipes located along exterior walls are most susceptible to freezing. To thaw pipes, contact a licensed plumber or use hot towels or a hair dryer. Never use an open flame.

Cold-weather tips for your pets from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa:

• Puppies, small dogs and older dogs have a lower tolerance for cold temperatures. Let them outside only to relieve themselves.
• If your dog is built for colder weather and enjoys playing in the cold, increase its amount of food, especially by adding extra protein to their diet.
• Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep that's off of the floor and away from drafts. If indoors, provide a warm blanket or pet bed. If you have an outside dog, consider bringing it inside. If your dog must stay outside, make sure it has adequate shelter and unfrozen water. The shelter must keep it warm and include dry bedding, such as straw. Do not use blankets outside because it will collect water and freeze.
• Keep indoor cats inside. Cats can get lost in wintry weather and become injured or worse. If there are cats outdoors, provide them with a warm place to sleep, access to unfrozen water and nutritious food.
• Dogs that are let off-leash during the winter, especially during a snowstorm, have a higher chance of becoming lost. Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags and has been microchipped.
• Never leave your cat or dog in a vehicle in cold weather. The vehicle acts as a refrigerator, keeping the cold in and causing the animal to freeze.
• Towel dry your dog’s paws, legs and stomach when bringing them inside. Chemical agents used to melt ice can be dangerous for your dog to ingest. Snow and encrusted ice may also cause your dog’s paws to bleed.
• Never shave your dog to the skin in the winter. Dogs need their coat to provide warmth. Keep pets’ fur mat-free. Mats do not allow the pet’s coat to keep the animal warm.

Philip Joens covers breaking news for The Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-443-3347 at pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.