WORCESTER, Mass. – A widespread hard freeze will settle over much of southern New England overnight tonight, from 11PM until 9AM Friday, as the season’s coldest air mass brings sub-freezing temperatures to Massachusetts, northern Connecticut, and interior Rhode Island.
According to the National Weather Service in Boston/Norton, a Freeze Warning is in effect for Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties in Connecticut; much of central and western Massachusetts including Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex counties; and interior Rhode Island, including Kent, Providence, and Washington counties. Temperatures are expected to dip as low as 25 degrees in colder valleys, with upper 20s to near 30 in urban and coastal inland areas.
Forecasters warn that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, damage unprotected plumbing, and harm sensitive vegetation. Residents are urged to cover or bring in plants, shut off and drain outdoor faucets, and wrap exposed pipes before bedtime. Pet owners should also ensure animals have warm shelter through the night.
Clear skies and calm winds will promote rapid cooling after sunset, allowing frost to form early across low-lying areas. Drivers traveling along I-90, I-84, and Route 146 should expect frosted windshields and slick spots on rural roads by dawn Friday.
According to forecasters, this will be the first widespread freeze of the season for interior southern New England, signaling the end of the growing season. Milder days return this weekend, but another cold shot may bring renewed frost potential early next week.
