Winchester, VA – The National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington has issued a Freeze Watch for portions of northern and western Virginia, in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning, as temperatures could drop as low as 28 degrees.
According to the NWS, the watch includes Culpeper, Madison, Page, Rappahannock, Warren, Clarke, Frederick (VA), Northern Fauquier, and Southern Fauquier Counties, with affected communities such as Front Royal, Winchester, Culpeper, and Warrenton.
Forecasters warn that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, sensitive vegetation, and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Residents are urged to bring plants indoors, cover garden beds, and insulate outdoor pipes before temperatures fall late Thursday night.
This event could bring the first widespread hard freeze of the season to the region, effectively ending the growing season across much of the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont.
Calm winds and clear skies are expected overnight, allowing heat to escape quickly and causing sharp temperature drops before sunrise Friday. Highs are expected to recover into the low to mid-50s Friday afternoon, followed by another chilly night heading into the weekend.
