BLACKSBURG, VA — The fields sparkle white with frost, the air still and biting before sunrise. Across the New River Valley, thermometers bottomed out in the low to mid-20s, marking one of the coldest mornings of the season so far.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg reports a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. Friday, impacting portions of southwest Virginia, northwest North Carolina, and southeast West Virginia. Temperatures have dropped far enough to end the growing season, and frost has likely coated rooftops, vehicles, and open fields.
Residents are urged to cover or bring in tender plants and wrap exposed outdoor plumbing. Sub-freezing air can damage vegetation, and with calm winds, frost formation is widespread in valleys and rural hollows.
By midmorning, sunshine will quickly erase the frost, lifting highs near 56°F under clear skies. Saturday looks pleasant with a light breeze and highs near 59°F, a welcome rebound after the cold snap. However, clouds increase by Sunday, signaling the next weather shift as moisture builds from the west.
Light rain is possible Sunday night into Monday, followed by a stretch of mostly cloudy, cooler days through midweek.
To be fair, this freeze is no surprise — late October often delivers the first true taste of winter for the Appalachians. Still, for many across the hills and hollows, this morning’s chill serves as a clear reminder: November’s edge is here.
And while there’s no snow in the cards yet, models hint at colder air returning by Halloween, keeping that early winter buzz alive across Virginia’s mountain towns.
