Various cold weather alerts are in place for 12 states on Thursday afternoon as temperatures drop to dangerous levels for outdoor plumbing and vegetation.
Why It Matters
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued frost advisories and freeze warnings across 12 states as colder weather arrives with the fall season. Many states have already seen their first frost, and cold temperatures are spreading as the season progresses.
Cold weather alerts from the NWS signal to farmers and growers that efforts should be made to protect tender plants from the cold. In some cases, the freezing conditions are a little later than normal. For example, higher-elevation parts of New Mexico typically see the first hard freeze around October 10, NWS meteorologist David Craft told Newsweek.
What to Know
Frost advisories, the least severe of the alerts, were issued in Idaho, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. Temperatures could drop as low as 32°F in some areas.
The frost will form overnight and through the early morning hours on Friday.
Frost typically forms when temperatures reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. However, it is possible for frost to form at higher temperatures, into the upper 30s.
“On a clear and calm night, the temperature close to the ground easily can be 5 or more degrees cooler than at the standard height,” NWS Louisville said on its website. “Thus you sometimes will see a forecast of frost even with lows in the upper 30s. This property of warmer air above the surface is night is called an “inversion”, as it is typical to see temperatures drop as you go aloft during the day.”
Freeze warnings are more severe. If covered properly or only exposed to freezing temperatures around 32 degrees for a short time, plants can typically survive during a light frost. However, a hard freeze puts an end to the growing season.
NWS meteorologists issued freeze warnings for Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and New York.
Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 degrees are expected in parts of Colorado, with other states seeing temperatures in the upper 20s.
What People Are Saying
NWS Grand Junction, Colorado, in a freeze warning: “Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”
NWS Boise in a post on X: “A Frost Advisory has been issued for the Upper Treasure Valley east of Boise and the Western Magic Valley for tonight. Low temperatures in much of these areas will drop to 33 to 36. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.”
What Happens Next
People in the impacted states should monitor local NWS forecasts to see if they will be affected. Actions to protect tender plants should be taken before the cold temperatures arrive.
