Parts of the Grand Canyon State were under a freeze warning Tuesday evening, meaning Arizona residents must take extra measures to protect their homes.

The cold weather system was expected to cool things down in the Phoenix metropolitan area, with an expected high of 68 degrees on Tuesday. The cold front also led to a freeze warning being put in place for rural areas south of Phoenix from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

“These areas are experiencing more intense what we call radiative cooling during the nighttime hours, causing temperatures to drop further than we would see in urban areas,” said Ryan Worley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

By Wednesday morning, freezing temperatures may occur in the lower reaches of the Colorado River and the Casa Grande, Arizona City, Globe and San Carlos areas.

Here’s how to be prepared for a freeze warning and protect your pipes in Arizona when temperatures drop.

How to prevent pipes from bursting

When temperatures drop to freezing, pipes are at risk of bursting due to water expansion. According to Consumer Reports, freezing pipe bursts are “one of the most common causes of property damage.”

According to the American Red Cross, you can prepare by:

• If there are water supply lines in the garage, keep your garage doors closed.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate closer to plumbing fixtures.

• Allow cold water to drip from faucets connected to outdoor or unheated indoor pipes.

• The National Weather Service encourages covering exposed pipes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Frost Warning: How to Protect Your Arizona Home During Cold Weather