FREDERICK, Md. – Clear skies and calm winds will bring a chilly, frosty night to much of northern Maryland and northern Virginia overnight tonight, from 2AM until 9AM Friday, marking the region’s first widespread frost of the fall season.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Frost Advisory is in effect for Frederick, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery counties in Maryland, and Loudoun, Fauquier, Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange, Prince William, and Rappahannock counties in Virginia. Temperatures are expected to fall to near 33 degrees, cold enough for frost to form on lawns, gardens, and vehicles by dawn.
Forecasters warn that frost could harm or kill sensitive vegetation, particularly in rural and low-lying areas. Residents are urged to bring potted plants indoors, cover garden crops, and disconnect hoses ahead of the coldest hours before sunrise.
While most of the Washington metro area will stay a few degrees warmer due to the urban heat island, suburban and valley communities will likely wake to a thin frost layer. Drivers should allow extra time for frost removal from windshields Friday morning.
According to meteorologists, the chilly air will lift quickly under sunshine Friday afternoon, leading to a comfortable fall day. Temperatures will rebound through the weekend before another cold front brings renewed frost chances early next week.
