A strong cold front will move across the state on Tuesday, which could mean a light dusting of snow for Beaufort County.

A 60-percent chance of rain showers Tuesday night could turn to snow after midnight, according the National Weather Service. Cold weather will stick around through the end of the week: Wednesday’s high will be near 41; the low around 20 degrees. Thursday’s high barely rises above freezing at 33 degrees; its low will also be around 20 degrees. On Friday, the temperatures begin to climb into the weekend, with a high of 45 degrees Friday, high of 51 Saturday and a high near 58 degrees on Sunday.

• With the extremely cold temperatures, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offers these tips for staying safe and healthy during cold weather:
• Wear warm, dry clothing and make sure body parts most often affected by frostbite are covered (nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin, fingers).
• Limit time outside during cold temperatures and seek shelter in a warm, dry place.
• Check on others who might be at risk for cold weather-related illness.
• Seek care if hypothermia or frostbite is suspected.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm with an Underwriters Laboratory UL™ listing on each level of your home and near all sleeping areas to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas.
• Never use generators indoors, in the basement, inside the garage, or near open windows or the air intake of your house because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Never use charcoal grills or propane stoves indoors, even in a fireplace.
• Never use a gas oven to heat a home, even for a short amount of time.
• Carefully follow the directions to ensure proper alarm placement and check the batteries regularly.
• Replace alarms more than seven years old or when end-of-service indicator chirps.
• Evacuate and call 911 if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds.

The office of Gov. Roy Cooper also encourages residents to make provisions for their pets.

• Bring pets inside when temperatures drop below freezing. Like people, pets are susceptible to frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration and other medical conditions.
• Check underneath your warming car for roaming animals like cats.
• Shorten your dog’s walks and check paws for signs of cold-weather injury. After walks, wipe down your pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove any chemicals (antifreeze).
• Pets should be monitored around wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and space heaters. These can cause severe burns.
• Move livestock and other animals into sheltered locations with sufficient food and water.