Tri-State Region (WV-KY-VA) – 29°F temperatures are freezing crops and damaging sensitive vegetation through 10 a.m. Saturday, with another round of sub-freezing cold expected late tonight into Sunday morning.
Cold air remains entrenched early this morning across southern West Virginia, northeast Kentucky, and southwest Virginia, with many valleys dropping below freezing and widespread frost already forming. Conditions will briefly improve late this morning before temperatures fall sharply again overnight, setting up a second freeze window between roughly 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday for counties including Cabell-adjacent areas like Wayne, along with Mingo, Logan, McDowell, and Wyoming counties in West Virginia, Boyd and Greenup counties in Kentucky, and Buchanan and Dickenson counties in Virginia. A Freeze Watch then takes effect late tonight through Sunday morning, with temperatures potentially dropping as low as 27°F in sheltered valleys.
Communities such as Ashland, Logan, Williamson, Welch, and Louisa face the highest risk, particularly in low-lying terrain where cold air pools. Early-season crops, fruit trees, and gardens are vulnerable to repeated freeze damage, and unprotected outdoor plumbing or irrigation systems could be impacted.
Residents should act immediately this morning and again before midnight tonight to cover plants, bring sensitive vegetation indoors, and insulate exposed pipes. Agricultural interests should take protective measures to reduce crop loss.
Temperatures will rise above freezing by late morning today, then fall again overnight before improving after sunrise Sunday. Additional cold weather alerts may follow if the pattern persists into early next week.
