Weather
Maryland-Virginia, WV Freeze Watch: Lows in the 20s Sunday Oct 18
Hagerstown, MD – A widespread freeze threat is developing across portions of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia this weekend, with temperatures potentially falling into the upper 20s and lower 30s b
By Audrey Sloan · 2026-10-16T17:12:33.149Z
Hagerstown, MD – A widespread freeze threat is developing across portions of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia this weekend, with temperatures potentially falling into the upper 20s and lower 30s by early Sunday morning. Residents across the three state region are being urged to prepare for freezing conditions that could damage sensitive plants, agricultural crops and exposed outdoor plumbing.
According to the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington office, a Freeze Watch has been issued from late Saturday night, October 17, through Sunday morning, October 18, with sub freezing temperatures possible across parts of north central and western Maryland, central and western Virginia, and West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle.
In Maryland, the watch includes Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties, affecting communities such as Hagerstown, Cumberland, Frostburg, Oakland and Grantsville.
Virginia communities included in the alert include Winchester, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Front Royal, Luray, Woodstock and Berryville, along with portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.
In West Virginia, affected areas include Martinsburg, Charles Town, Berkeley Springs, Romney, Keyser, Moorefield, Petersburg and Franklin.
Temperatures could fall into the upper 20s in some locations, creating a potentially damaging freeze for gardens, farms and other temperature sensitive vegetation.
Residents should consider bringing potted plants indoors, covering vulnerable vegetation and protecting exposed outdoor pipes before temperatures begin dropping Saturday night.
The freeze threat may be particularly concerning for agricultural communities and residents with plants still growing outdoors.
A Freeze Watch indicates freezing temperatures are possible but not guaranteed. The National Weather Service could upgrade the alert to a Freeze Warning if confidence increases.
Residents should monitor updated forecasts Saturday as the coldest conditions approach.
For official updates, visit weather.gov/lwx .