A blast of sub-freezing temperatures has prompted the National Weather Service to issue Freeze Warnings from Indiana to New Jersey for tonight into tomorrow morning. East-central Indiana, southern Ohio, northeastern Kentucky, western West Virginia, central Virginia, eastern Maryland , southeastern Pennsylvania, all of Delaware, and the southern half of New Jersey are all under a Freeze Warning now.

While frost and freeze conditions do occur somewhat frequently in these areas through mid April, the recent warm weather has triggered the growth of some plant and trees and freezing conditions now can damage or kill that growth.

“Due to warm weather over the past month, vegetative growth has gotten off to a fast start despite the cold winter preceding it,” the National Weather Service wrote in a Public Information Statement. They add, “Therefore, the National Weather Service will initiate frost/freeze watches, warnings, and advisories a bit earlier than normal.”

A freeze warning is an official alert issued by the National Weather Service indicating that widespread temperatures at or below 32°F are imminent or highly likely, typically during the growing season. It signifies that freezing conditions will occur, causing significant damage to sensitive crops, vegetation, and unprotected outdoor plumbing.

“Just as a reminder when it comes to frost/freeze, while in autumn the concern is tender ripe crops, in spring it is flowering fruit trees blooming too early and getting damaged,” the National Weather Service said.

While freezing temperatures and frost will be a problem for both Wednesday and Thursday morning in these areas, a warming trend should begin on Thursday afternoon, ending the current frost/freeze threat.