The National Weather Service (NWS) has expanded freeze warnings and frost advisories to cover areas of New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia as the Northeast faces a widespread cold snap from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Low temperatures are running as much as 10 degrees below average for this time of year in some areas, NWS meteorologist Derek Schroeter told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
The latest advisories mark an expansion from previous alerts that were issued in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont for the overnight hours on Tuesday into Wednesday morning as temperatures dropped to the upper 20s.
The NWS is cautioning residents about the potential for widespread damage to crops, sensitive plants, and unprotected plumbing. The warnings come as overnight low temperatures are forecast to fall below seasonal norms, posing risks to agriculture and vulnerable infrastructure.
What To Know
According to a series of bulletins from several NWS offices, the coldest temperatures, indicated by a freeze warning, are expected in New York. Lewis, Delaware, Northern Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie, Western Greene, Western Ulster, and Jefferson counties were under a freeze warning for Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Temperatures could dip as low as the upper 20s.
However, low temperatures also could cause widespread frost across several other states, which will have the potential to damage crops and plumbing. Frost advisories were issued by the following NWS offices:
- NWS State College, Pennsylvania: Elk, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Cameron, Clearfield, Northern Centre, Northern Clinton, and Northern Lycoming counties.
- NWS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: In Pennsylvania, Forest and Jefferson counties. In West Virginia, Eastern Tucker County.
- NWS Baltimore, Maryland: In Maryland, Garrett County. In Virginia, Highland County. In West Virginia, Pendleton, Western Grant, and Western Mineral counties.
- NWS Burlington, Vermont: Portions of northern New York and central, northwest, and southern Vermont.
- NWS Buffalo, New York: Oswego, Jefferson, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties.
- NWS Binghamton, New York: Portions of central New York and northeast Pennsylvania.
- NWS Albany, New York: The Berkshires of western Massachusetts, the Lake George northern Saratoga Region, Washington County, the western and central Mohawk Valley, and the northern and central Taconics in eastern New York, and southern Vermont. Western Albany and Western Schenectady Counties.
- NWS Caribou, Maine: Southern Penobscot County.
The timing for most warnings and advisories begins at midnight and extends into early Thursday morning, with most expiring by 8 or 9 a.m. local time.
In addition to the frost advisories, a special weather statement is in place for much of New Hampshire warning of frost potential.
The NWS urges residents and those with agricultural interests to take steps now to protect sensitive outdoor vegetation. Options include covering tender plants, moving potted plants indoors, and ensuring outdoor plumbing or in-ground sprinkler systems are drained or insulated to prevent freeze damage. Sensitive crops are particularly at risk and may be killed if left exposed.
What People Are Saying
NWS Burlington in a frost advisory: “Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.”
NWS State College in a post on X: “We’ll enjoy another splendidly sunny, but somewhat cooler day than recent ones as a subtle, dry and cloud-free “backdoor” cold front was pushing to the south and west across the state this morning. Frost will occur across northern PA tonight.”
What Happens Next
This unseasonably cold air mass marks an end to the growing season in several regions. The NWS notes that frost and freeze alerts are meant as a final heads-up to protect crops and infrastructure. After Thursday morning, a warming pattern is forecast for the weekend, with temperatures rebounding into the 70s and even low 80s in some areas, providing temporary relief from the cold snap.
