Columbus, OH – A Freeze Warning remains in effect for much of the Ohio Valley until 9 a.m. Friday, as temperatures dip below freezing across portions of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. The National Weather Service cautions that morning lows could fall to around 29–30 degrees, marking one of the coldest starts of the fall season so far.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Wilmington, OH, and Charleston, WV, the warning covers dozens of counties, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Huntington, Charleston, and Maysville. The chill is expected to be most intense in sheltered valleys and rural areas, where frost will be widespread.
Officials warn that unprotected crops, flowers, and outdoor plumbing could be damaged or destroyed. Residents are urged to cover plants, drain sprinkler systems, and protect pets and pipes from the cold.
The freeze follows a week of clear skies and calm winds that allowed temperatures to plummet overnight. Meteorologists say the region will rebound slightly later today, with highs climbing into the upper 50s under sunny skies.
Warmer air is expected to return by the weekend, but this morning’s freeze signals the growing end of the outdoor planting season across much of the Ohio Valley.
