Chicago, IL – A surge of unseasonably cool air has triggered frost advisories across a broad stretch of the Eastern United States, threatening sensitive vegetation and prompting early-morning precautions through 9 a.m. Thursday.
The National Weather Service has issued active frost advisories from Illinois to North Carolina, covering parts of 10 states including Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of eastern Missouri and southern Michigan.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to dip as low as 30 to 36 degrees overnight Wednesday into Thursday, particularly in rural valleys and low-lying areas. The greatest risk remains for areas where the growing season has already begun, including regions around Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh.
Frost formation could damage or kill tender vegetation if left uncovered. Residents are urged to bring plants indoors or cover them with cloth or plastic before nightfall.
In agricultural zones, the timing is especially critical. Counties across central Illinois and southern Ohio, along with interior North Carolina and eastern Kentucky, are among the most vulnerable.
Officials recommend checking with local agricultural extensions and monitoring weather updates via weather.gov.
