Blacksburg, Virginia – Residents across southwest Virginia, northwest North Carolina, and southeast West Virginia are being urged to prepare for a sharp temperature drop late Thursday night, as a Freeze Watch remains in effect through Friday morning. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg warns that subfreezing lows could dip as far down as 28 degrees, threatening crops, gardens, and outdoor plumbing.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, the alert covers counties including Tazewell, Smyth, Grayson, Giles, Bland, Wythe, and Bath, along with nearby regions across the North Carolina and West Virginia borders. The agency advises residents to protect tender plants, cover outdoor faucets, and bring pets indoors ahead of the cold snap.
The combination of clear skies and light winds is expected to enhance radiational cooling, allowing frost to develop rapidly overnight Thursday into early Friday. Agricultural officials caution that even a brief freeze could cause widespread vegetation damage, especially to late-season produce.
The Freeze Watch remains in effect until Friday morning, and additional warnings may be issued if temperatures continue to fall.
