Oakland, Md. – A sharp autumn chill will grip the Allegheny Highlands tonight, with a Frost Advisory in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, followed by a Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington. Overnight lows will dip to near 33 degrees, and some sheltered valleys could reach the upper 20s by early Friday.
The advisory covers Garrett and Allegany counties in Maryland, Highland County in Virginia, and Grant, Mineral, and Pendleton counties in West Virginia. Calm winds and clear skies will allow frost to form before dawn, marking one of the first widespread frost events of the season.
Residents are urged to cover or bring indoors sensitive plants, disconnect hoses, and insulate outdoor plumbing to prevent damage. Agricultural operations and gardeners should plan for two consecutive cold mornings, with a hard freeze likely in higher elevations by early Friday.
Frost may be patchy along ridge tops but widespread in valleys near Oakland, Franklin, and Monterey, where colder air tends to settle overnight. Morning commuters along U.S. 48, Route 33, and I-68 may also encounter frost on windshields and bridges.
Temperatures will moderate slightly by the weekend, but another round of cold mornings is possible early next week as Canadian air lingers over the Mid-Atlantic highlands.
