November is kicking off with a widespread killer frost and freeze event in the eastern United States that’ll bring a quick end to the 2023 growing season. With frost and freeze conditions on the way, the National Weather Service has put a large portion of the eastern U.S. under related advisories.
While the cold weather pattern east of the Rockies is forecast to moderate by the end of the week into the weekend, record low morning temperatures will be possible from the Lower Mississippi Valley, Southeast, Mid Atlantic and northern New England tonight. The cold area of high pressure, currently centered from the Ohio Valley into the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southern Plains will be pushing eastward over the next few days and offshore of east coast on Friday. The much below average temperatures of Wednesday for all areas east of the Rockies will remain below average Thursday into Friday, but trend warmer on both days. The coldest morning expected to be Thursday morning when record low temperatures are possible from the Lower Mississippi Valley, across portions of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and northern New England. Freeze warnings are in effect across all of these areas, except for New England, signaling the end of the growing season for these regions. Most areas to the east of the Rockies will have below freezing temperatures Thursday morning, except for the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Southeast Coast.
In contrast to the below average temperatures to the east of the Rockies, temperatures will remain above average over the next few days from the Rockies to the West coast.
In the Freeze Warning areas, frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold,” the National Weather Service warns, adding, “To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes 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.”