News of dropping temperatures did not trouble Mary Whaley at Whaley Pecan Company.

Her pecan crop has been harvested and her trees aren’t fazed by the sudden chill that has made this New Year one of the coldest Pike County has seen.

“A little bit of cold weather is good for the trees,” she said. “I don’t think the snow would even bother them.”

Whaley may get to test that snow theory in the coming days as Pike County braces for two cold snaps and the possibility of a flurry.

Aaron Gleason, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, said tonight’s lows in the mid 20s would be the first of two rounds of chilly weather.

“With some strong winds of up to 20 miles per hour, that’s gonna feel not so great. It’ll feel like it’s in the teens,” he said.

Eddie Powell, owner of Powell Plumbing, said chilling winds could do a number on the pipes of some homes.

“If they don’t have central heat and air, they might want to keep their water lines on,” he said.

Powell also recommended unhooking outdoor water hoses.

The best time to get outside this weekend will be Saturday afternoon when temperatures reach the 50s and dip no lower than 30 degrees.

That short respite will end Sunday night as a second arctic air mass reaches Troy. Pike’s best chance for snow will come Sunday. The cold air may turn forecasted rain into a few patches of snow.

“Temperatures Monday will probably not get above 40 and for Tuesday, we’re going to struggle to make it above freezing temperatures,” Gleason said.

Tuesday will be another cold one, but Gleason said not to expect the bitter cold to continue for much longer.

“One of the things about living in the south is we tend to moderate – or get back to normal – faster,” he said.