Richmond, VA – Temperatures are set to drop to near or below freezing overnight, putting sensitive plants and outdoor plumbing at risk across parts of central Virginia before sunrise Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, a Freeze Warning is in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday for areas mainly north and west of the Richmond metro, including portions of the central Virginia Piedmont, as well as parts of the lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Overnight lows are expected to fall to around 32°F or colder.
Communities including Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, and surrounding rural areas face the highest risk, where clear skies and calm winds will allow temperatures to drop quickly during the pre-dawn hours. Frost and freezing conditions could damage or kill early-season crops, gardens, and other sensitive vegetation.
Unprotected outdoor pipes may also be vulnerable in colder pockets, especially in rural and low-lying areas.
Residents are urged to cover or bring in plants, wrap exposed pipes, and take precautions before midnight. Gardeners should use lightweight blankets or cloth coverings to trap heat near vegetation.
The freeze threat will ease after 9 a.m. Wednesday as temperatures rise, but additional advisories could be issued if cold conditions persist later this week.
