EASTON, Pa. – A hard freeze is expected to settle over far northern New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley overnight, with temperatures plunging into the upper 20s to low 30s from 11PM to 9AM EDT Friday. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Freeze Warning for Sussex and Warren Counties in New Jersey and Carbon, Monroe, and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania.
According to the National Weather Service, skies will clear and winds will calm overnight, allowing rapid cooling and widespread frost formation by early Friday. The freeze will be cold enough to kill any remaining crops or unprotected plants and could damage outdoor plumbing if not properly insulated.
Residents are urged to act now to prevent damage. Gardeners should cover or bring in potted plants, while homeowners should drain hoses and wrap exposed pipes. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, this freeze is likely to mark the end of the growing season for much of the Poconos and Lehigh Valley region.
Drivers should prepare for frosty windshields and slick bridge surfaces early Friday morning. Sunshine will return through the day, allowing gradual warming into the upper 40s. Another cold night is possible Friday before temperatures moderate over the weekend.
