Washington, D.C. – Temperatures will drop below freezing across the Mid-Atlantic within hours tonight, creating a widespread threat to plants and outdoor infrastructure before the Thursday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight through 9 a.m. Thursday for northern Maryland, much of northern and central Virginia, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the upper 20s to lower 30s.
The coldest conditions are expected in outlying and rural areas, including Frederick, Hagerstown, Winchester, Leesburg, Culpeper, and Martinsburg, where frost formation will be most widespread. Even suburban areas around Washington, D.C. could see pockets of freezing temperatures, especially away from urban heat zones.
Sensitive vegetation, including early blooms, crops, and garden plants, could be killed if left unprotected. Outdoor plumbing and irrigation systems may also be at risk in colder spots.
Residents are urged to cover plants, bring potted vegetation indoors, and disconnect hoses before midnight. Temperatures will rebound after sunrise Thursday, but additional cold nights may follow as the pattern lingers.
