A literally freezing cold morning is expected on Friday as cold air spills into the deep South from Canada later today and tonight, setting the stage for widespread frost and freeze conditions. Because of potential impacts to early crops, outdoor gardens, livestock, and pets, the National Weather Service has issued a variety of advisories to alert the public of the very cold temperatures.
Freeze Warnings are up for portions of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. A Freeze Warning is also up for the entire metro New York City area and adjacent portions of western Long Island.
A Frost Advisory is up for portions of Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia too.
A Freeze Watch is up for portions of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi. Beyond tomorrow, the National Weather Service has already issued a Freeze Watch for the metro New York City area again on Saturday morning.
The National Weather Service warns that frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation in these areas. Any plants or animals susceptible to frost and freeze conditions should be protected before nightfall.
In addition to living things, the freezing temperatures could also be stressful on pipes and machinery. Even residential irrigation systems that aren’t blown-out could encounter burst pipes from the cold readings.
Saturday morning will also feature cold temperatures with another round of warnings and advisories possible for that near-freezing morning too.
Not every area that will see temperatures drop below freezing will get an advisory. These advisories are typically reserved for times when growing or planting seasons have begun. Places like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and upstate New York, where sub-freezing conditions are expected, won’t be under any advisory because the growing season hasn’t started there yet.
