STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A sharp fall chill is set to grip central Pennsylvania late Thursday, with the season’s first Freeze Watch now in effect from Thursday evening through Friday morning. Temperatures are expected to plunge into the upper 20s and low 30s, threatening crops, gardens, and unprotected outdoor plumbing across a broad swath of the region.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, sub-freezing temperatures could affect northern and western valleys including Clinton, Centre, Blair, Bedford, Lycoming, Snyder, and Union counties. The coldest readings are likely in low-lying rural areas near Trout Run, Renovo, Mifflintown, and Bedford, where frost and freeze conditions may end the growing season.
Motorists and early commuters should be prepared for patchy frost on bridges and rural roadways Friday morning. The PennDOT advises caution on shaded stretches of I-80, I-99, and Route 322 as surface moisture may freeze briefly before sunrise. Gardeners and farmers are urged to harvest sensitive crops, cover plants, and disconnect outdoor hoses before nightfall Thursday.
The cold snap will ease Friday afternoon with abundant sunshine, but another round of patchy frost is possible Friday night before a warming trend returns over the weekend. Daytime highs are expected to rebound into the 60s by Saturday and mid-80s by early next week, signaling a quick rebound after the fall chill.
Five-Day Forecast for State College, PA:
Wed: 86/37 – Breezy early, turning sunny; cooler tonight.
Thu: 59/31 – Clear and cold; widespread frost late.
Fri: 62/30 – Sunny, crisp; freeze risk early.
Sat: 67/44 – Mostly cloudy; milder afternoon.
Sun: 84/43 – Partly sunny; warmup continues.
