PORTLAND, Maine – A Freeze Warning has been issued for much of southern and central Maine as well as central and southern New Hampshire, where temperatures are forecast to fall into the low to mid-20s from 11PM to 8AM EDT Friday. The National Weather Service in Gray said this early-season cold snap will likely end the growing season across much of the region.
According to the National Weather Service, the warning covers York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Waldo, and Knox Counties in Maine, along with Strafford, Merrimack, Sullivan, Cheshire, Hillsborough, and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire. Skies will clear and winds will calm overnight, allowing widespread frost and hard freeze conditions by dawn Friday.
Residents should protect outdoor plants and plumbing before nightfall. Gardeners are urged to bring in potted plants or cover sensitive vegetation, and homeowners should disconnect hoses and insulate exposed pipes. Agricultural officials in both states warn that prolonged exposure to subfreezing temperatures will kill most remaining field crops and tender garden plants.
Drivers should plan for frosted windshields and icy bridges early Friday morning. Sunshine will return later in the day, bringing highs back into the upper 40s and low 50s. A second chilly night is expected before a gradual warming trend develops this weekend.
