PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Freeze Watch goes into effect late Thursday night for much of western and southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of northern West Virginia, where temperatures could dip to around 28°F between 4AM and 9AM EDT Friday. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said the coming cold will likely end the growing season across the higher terrain and rural valleys.
According to the National Weather Service, the watch includes Mercer, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Indiana, Armstrong, and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania, and Preston and Tucker Counties in West Virginia. A Frost Advisory remains in effect until 9AM Thursday before temperatures moderate briefly during the day, then plummet again overnight.
Residents should protect outdoor plants and plumbing before temperatures drop. Gardeners should bring potted plants indoors or cover them, while homeowners are urged to drain hoses and wrap exposed pipes. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the expected freeze could kill unprotected crops and garden vegetation, marking the close of the growing season in western Pennsylvania.
Drivers should expect frosted windshields and icy bridge surfaces early Friday morning, especially across elevated terrain such as the Laurel Highlands. Sunshine will return through Friday, helping temperatures recover into the upper 40s, with a gradual warming trend anticipated this weekend.
