UNDATED - A freeze warning is in effect for Gainesville and most of north Georgia for Monday night.<br>
<br>
Gainesville is among the places that may experience the first freeze of the season by Tuesday morning.<br>
<br>
Temperatures are expected to be at or just below freezing in all or parts of 59 counties around sunrise - but the rain, which caused a rash of wrecks in the Gainesville area during morning rush-hour, should be over by then.<br>
<br>
The National Weather Service says temperatures will be falling throughout the day Monday and will reach the lowest levels of the season Monday night. Temperatures at or below freezing are expected generally along and north of a line from Washington to Griffin to LaGrange - with the coldest weather expected in the mountains, where mid 20s are forecast.<br>
<br>
A freeze warning is issued when temperatgures are forecast to fall below freezing and threaten outdoor plants. Forecasters warn that vegetation and young trees need to be protected and potted plants that are outside should be covered or taken indoors.<br>
<br>
About a quarter-inch of rain had fallen through mid-morning Monday in Gainesville - most of it occurring in the pre-dawn hours starting around 5:00.<br>
<br>
WEATHER-RELATED WRECKS<br>
<br>
A rash of mostly weather-related traffic accidents kept Gainesville Police, the Hall County Sheriff's Office, and the state patrol on the go during the morning rush hour.<br>
But, authorities report no serious injuries in any of the accidents which included several about the same time along one stretch of Interstate 985.
