Springfield, IL – A hard freeze is expected to impact large portions of central Illinois overnight Monday into early Tuesday, with temperatures forecast to drop as low as 25°F.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, a Freeze Watch remains in effect from midnight Monday night through 9 a.m. Tuesday. Affected counties include Sangamon, Champaign, Macon, Vermilion, and surrounding areas, covering key cities such as Springfield, Decatur, and Danville.
The weather service warns that frost and freeze conditions could severely damage sensitive vegetation and may also pose a risk to unprotected outdoor plumbing. A hard freeze — temperatures below 28°F — is likely with a 70 to 90 percent probability across the region.
Residents are urged to take immediate action by covering or bringing in plants and ensuring outdoor plumbing is insulated or drained. The timing of the freeze is particularly critical for early spring growers and gardeners, as new growth may be vulnerable.
This type of freeze is not unusual for early April, but the widespread nature and intensity of the cold could make it one of the more damaging cold snaps of the season.
