ALBANY, N.Y. – The first hard freeze of the season will grip much of eastern and central New York tonight, threatening gardens and outdoor vegetation as temperatures plunge well below freezing. The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Freeze Warning from 11 p.m. tonight through 9 a.m. Friday, covering the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, and western New England.
According to the National Weather Service Albany office, overnight lows will fall into the 20s and low 30s, with coldest readings across the Adirondacks and southern Vermont. Clear skies and light winds behind Thursday’s cold front will allow rapid cooling. A hard freeze, defined as temperatures below 28°F for several hours, is possible in outlying valleys and rural areas.
The warning includes Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Poughkeepsie, Pittsfield, and Bennington. Motorists traveling before dawn should watch for patchy frost and icy spots on bridges and back roads. Homeowners are urged to cover sensitive plants, disconnect hoses, and protect pets and pipes from the cold.
According to the New York State Department of Transportation, no major travel restrictions are expected, but early commuters may face slippery conditions in frost-prone valleys. The cold snap will signal the end of the growing season across much of the region, with milder afternoons returning this weekend under sunny skies.
