ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A sharp fall freeze will hit the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey overnight tonight, 11PM until 9AM Friday, bringing the first sub-freezing temperatures of the season and ending the local growing season.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, a Freeze Warning remains in effect for Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania, and Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey. Temperatures will bottom out near 29 degrees, cold enough to damage outdoor plumbing and kill any remaining tender plants.
Forecasters warn that frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and harm unprotected vegetation, while homeowners should disconnect hoses, drain sprinkler systems, and wrap exposed pipes before midnight. Pets and livestock should also be sheltered from the coldest air.
Calm winds and clear skies will allow temperatures to fall quickly after sunset. Drivers along I-78, I-80, and PA-33 may encounter patchy frost and icy spots early Friday, especially in rural valleys and shaded areas.
According to forecasters, a gradual warm-up is expected over the weekend, but another cold push could return early next week, bringing another round of frost or freeze conditions to eastern Pennsylvania and northwest New Jersey.
