CUMBERLAND, Md. – A Freeze Warning is in effect for the high valleys of western Maryland, northern Virginia, and eastern West Virginia, where temperatures are expected to fall near 31°F between 2AM and 9AM EDT Friday. The National Weather Service said this early-season cold will likely end the growing season across portions of the central Appalachians.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, the warning covers Allegany County in Maryland, Page, Shenandoah, Augusta, and Rockingham Counties in Virginia, and Hardy, Hampshire, and Mineral Counties in West Virginia. A separate Freeze Warning also covers the Highland region of Virginia and Garrett County, MD, where lows may dip into the upper 20s.
Calm winds and clear skies will allow rapid overnight cooling, producing widespread frost and subfreezing temperatures by dawn. Residents are urged to protect sensitive plants and plumbing before temperatures drop. Gardeners should bring in or cover tender vegetation, and homeowners should drain hoses and insulate outdoor faucets.
According to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, this freeze will likely end the growing season across the Potomac Highlands, while motorists may encounter frosted windshields and slick bridge surfaces early Friday. Sunshine will return during the day, lifting highs into the upper 40s and low 50s, with a gradual warming trend into the weekend.
