A sharp drop in temperatures has prompted freeze warnings across 16 states in the U.S., affecting residents from the Northeast and Midwest all the way to southern and western regions. This early blast of cold air has caught many off guard.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for millions, reminding folks to safeguard their delicate plants, outdoor plumbing, and pets. “Frost and freeze conditions can be damaging to crops and sensitive plants,” the NWS cautions. They recommend taking protective steps now since freezing temperatures can also harm unprotected plumbing.
Many areas are bracing for temperatures to dip below freezing, contrasting sharply with the unseasonably warm weather seen recently.
A freeze warning is declared when temperatures are expected to stay below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period. The affected Eastern states include Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, alongside northwest North Carolina.
The warnings in places like Maryland and parts of Virginia are valid until 9 a.m. EDT Friday, with sub-freezing temperatures anticipated in southwest and west-central Virginia and northern and southeastern West Virginia.
In southwestern and western Pennsylvania, expect temperatures dropping as low as 29 degrees between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. EDT Friday. Additionally, a freeze warning for east-central New York is in place until 9 a.m. EDT Friday, predicting lows of around 28 degrees.
Western states, including parts of Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, California, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming, are also under various freeze warnings. Wyoming, for instance, experiences warnings from 11 p.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. MDT Saturday, with temperatures plummeting to 21 degrees.
In Nevada and California, sub-freezing temperatures are expected, with lows between 20 and 28 degrees. Oregon valleys could see temperatures drop to 30 degrees, with freeze warnings in effect until 9 a.m. PDT Friday.
Arizona faces two distinct freeze warnings: the first from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. MDT Saturday and the second from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. MDT Sunday, where lows may reach 35 degrees in areas like Upper Gila River Valley and Eastern Cochise County. There’s also a wind advisory still active in parts of Arizona.
Utah’s freeze warning is effective until 9 a.m. MDT Friday, with predicted temperatures below 32 degrees, especially in Sanpete and Sevier valleys, where it may dip to 22-26 degrees. Another freeze warning is set from 8 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. MDT Saturday across different areas in Utah.
Earlier this week, Utah was one of three states to receive a winter storm warning, forecasting heavy snow and strong winds in mountainous regions.
In the Midwest, states such as Ohio and Idaho are also facing freeze warnings. Ohio’s warning is in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. EDT Friday, impacting counties like Geauga and Mahoning, while Idaho’s freeze warning is set from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. MDT Friday, with temperatures dipping as low as 29 degrees.