PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Freeze Watch remains in effect from late Thursday night through 9AM EDT Friday for a wide area of western and southwestern Pennsylvania and the northern mountains of West Virginia, where temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 20s. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said the coldest air of the fall so far could end the growing season across much of the region.
According to the Weather Service, a Frost Advisory remains in effect until 9AM Thursday morning for the same counties before the colder air arrives tonight. The watch area includes Mercer, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Indiana, Armstrong, and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Preston, Tucker, and Monongalia Counties in West Virginia. Clear skies and calm winds will allow strong overnight cooling with widespread frost and possible hard freeze conditions.
Residents should protect outdoor plants and plumbing ahead of the cold. Bring potted plants indoors or cover gardens, and wrap exposed pipes. Agricultural officials warn that extended subfreezing temperatures could kill unprotected crops and end the 2025 growing season for many rural communities.
Drivers should expect frosted windshields and icy bridge surfaces early Friday morning. Sunshine will return by afternoon, but highs will only reach the upper 40s to near 50°F. A gradual warming trend is forecast to begin over the weekend.
