Watertown, N.Y. – A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight through 9 a.m. Thursday for Jefferson and Lewis counties, as sub-freezing temperatures around 30 degrees are expected to blanket the North Country. The chill marks the first widespread freeze of the fall season, ending the region’s growing season and posing a threat to unprotected vegetation and pipes.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, temperatures will fall quickly after sunset Wednesday as skies clear and winds go calm—ideal conditions for a sharp overnight drop. By early Thursday morning, frost and hard freeze conditions will develop from Watertown south to Lowville, with rural valleys along the Black River and Tug Hill Plateau likely seeing the coldest readings.
Residents are urged to cover sensitive plants, drain outdoor hoses, and protect plumbing ahead of the freeze. Those with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain and insulate exposed pipes to avoid costly damage.
While Thursday afternoon will bring sunshine, temperatures will struggle to rise out of the upper 40s, with another cold night expected before a slow weekend warm-up. Agricultural interests across northern New York should assume the growing season has ended, as additional freezes are likely into early next week.
Motorists traveling along I-81 and NY Route 12 early Thursday should also watch for patchy frost, especially in sheltered and low-lying areas.
