Cincinnati, OH – The season’s first hard freeze will sweep from Iowa to Virginia late tonight into Friday morning (Oct. 24), effectively ending the growing season across much of the Midwest and Appalachians. Commuters and early risers should plan for widespread frost and icy windshields, with the coldest readings just before sunrise.
According to multiple National Weather Service offices, Freeze Warnings are in effect late tonight through mid-morning Friday for large portions of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and the higher elevations of North Carolina. Forecast lows range from the mid-20s to near freezing: 26–32°F in parts of Iowa and Nebraska; 27–31°F in eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois; 28–31°F across central Illinois; 29–31°F across much of Indiana and Kentucky; as low as 25–29°F in the NC mountains and southwest Virginia; and around 29–31°F for portions of northern Virginia and the Shenandoah region.
NWS forecasters warn frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and may damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Several offices note tonight’s Freeze Warning replaces earlier Watches as confidence increased.
Most warnings run roughly midnight–9 a.m. local time Friday (check your local office for exact windows). Today (Thursday) began with pockets of frost; the more significant freeze arrives overnight into Friday morning. Cover or bring in tender plants, drain and cover exposed hoses and sprinkler lines, wrap vulnerable pipes or let indoor faucets drip slowly, and park vehicles under cover if possible.
