We don't get a killing frost very early very often, so I'm out there cutting down plants in October every year unless it's a really spectacular late Fall and the blooms are still decent. Otherwise, I'd be out there digging in January.

Just cut the plants off leaving ample stalk to grab, wait several days to a week and dig them up for storage. I think your storage temperature should still be below 50 and above freezing though, if you can manage it.

It is going down to 4C tonight here, so I have a lot of my dahlias covered for the night.

I will likely be digging my dahlias before the end of September this year, as I have some things going on which will require my attention in October. They can be dug and cleaned as per my other posts, with the only difference being that the eyes will not be so readily visible. That never worries me, as I usually start them in late March early April and they eye up quickly enough then.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/dahlia/msg1016075928014.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Getting ready to store dahlias for winter

Brrrr Jroot! Time to break out the fleece! I hope you are enjoying the middle of your season as much as possible seeing it was somewhat shortened this year by Mother Nature.