While the calendar says it’s mid April, Old Man Winter, who was vacant much of meteorological winter, isn’t in a rush to leave. Weather conditions will allow temperatures to dip below freezing or just above freezing, producing widespread freeze or frost conditions over an area that has already started their growing season for the 2020 Spring.
In the Garden State, Frost Advisories are up for much of South Jersey for later tonight into THursday morning. During this time, drost will be largely limited to colder spots in the Pine Barrens. However, even colder conditions are expected Thursday night into Friday morning, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Freeze Watch for much of south, central, and northern New Jersey and nearby adjacent locations in eastern Pennsylvania.
A Freeze Watch has also been issued for late Thursday / early Friday for southern Upstate New York, central and eastern Long Island, and coastal Connecticut.
A Freeze Warnings and Watches are also up for portions of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland tonight and/or tomorrow night too as temperatures dip into the upper 20’s and lower 30’s there.
Sub-freezing temperatures are expected across the southern half of Ohio, much of Indiana, southern Illinois, and northern and central Kentucky tonight, prompting Freeze Warnings to be in effect there. South of this Freeze Warning, in southern Missouri, western Kentucky, much of Tennessee, and northeastern Alabama, Frost Advisories are in effect.
Frosty conditions are also expected across southern Virginia, most of North Carolina, and northeastern South Carolina tonight. Because of that, the National Weather Service has issued Frost Advisories there.
A Frost Advisory is issued when frost is possible; under such an advisory, frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
A Freeze Watch is issued when sub-freezing temperatures in the low 30’s are possible. In this watch, it is possible that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, harm other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
A Freeze Warning is issued when a solid frost or freeze is likely with temperatures dipping into the 20’s. Such conditions will kill sensitive vegetation, kill crops, and could damage outdoor plumbing such as irrigation systems. When a Freeze Warning is issued, people should take immediate steps to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, the National Weather Service says they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly; those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
