Tuscaloosa County is under a hard freeze warning beginning Monday and ending Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Sunday. A chance of freezing rain and sleet is predicted between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Sunday's high temperature will be in the 30s and the low will be near 20 degrees.

The bitter cold is expected to continue Monday and Tuesday, with high temperatures in the 30s and lows in the teens but no precipitation expected. Wind-chill factors could dip as low as the single digits.

During the frigid stretch of weather, Northport Fire Rescue is reminding people about the importance of the "Four P's" — People, Pets, Pipes and Plants.

People

• Check on the elderly and those who may have functional or access needs to make sure that they have sufficient warmth to get them through the cold weather.

• Watch for signs of hypothermia, which include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion. If you feel the person is suffering from hypothermia, get them to a warm location, remove any wet clothing and warm the center of the body first, giving warm, non-alcoholic beverages to the victim if conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible. If a persons’ body temperature falls behind 95°, it is a medical emergency — call 911 immediately.

• Avoid doing activities, such as exercising, outdoors when there is extreme cold.

 • If you have to be outdoors, dress in several thin layers rather than one thick layer. Cover your head to reduce heat loss, cover your mouth using scarf or mask to help warm the air before your breathe it.

• Be sure that space heaters are properly tested and are placed a safe distance from flammable materials. If using a kerosene or propane-powered heater, be sure to maintain ventilation to prevent the build-up of toxic fumes. Never refuel canisters inside.

• Ovens and stoves should never be used to heat your home, and they pose a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Keep children and pets away from space heaters at all times.

• When driving, remember that cold weather may cause highway overpasses and bridges to freeze. Take extra precautions when driving during cold weather.

Pets

• During extremely cold weather, pets should be kept indoors.

• Don’t shave your pet’s coat all the way down during winter — exposed skin can easily lead to hypothermia and frostbite. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting him a coat or sweater for the winter weather.

• Never leave your animal in a car during the winter. Vehicles can act as refrigerators and can result in hypothermia.

• More from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can be found at www.aspca.org/pet-care/cold-weather-tips.

Pipes

• While pipes generally do not freeze until the temperature drops into the 20s, pipes exposed to windy areas could experience cracking.

• Be sure that pipes are properly insulated, wrap newspaper or clothes around outside faucets, or in cold areas of homes. Let sensitive faucets run at a slow drip to allow for water to move, which helps prevent freezing.

• If you think a pipe might be frozen (you open a tap and no water comes out), don’t take any chances. Call a plumber and leave your tap open until they arrive. Also, turn off the water main to your house to avoid shifting ice and flooding.

Plants

• Plants should be covered on cold nights with fabric to help keep them somewhat insulated during a freeze.

• You can also create windbreaks around sensitive plants to keep the cold air from “burning” them.

• Keep your plants hydrated, which helps fight off drying due to cold winds.