First freeze warnings of fall hit upstate New York, Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service posted freeze warnings for parts of upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania, with lows at or below 32 degrees. Frost advisories cover parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Gardeners should cover or bring in tender plants and protect outdoor pipes.
The first hard cold of fall is reaching the Northeast. The National Weather Service posted freeze warnings for parts of eastern upstate New York from midnight to 8 a.m. Wednesday, The Post-Star in Glens Falls reported. Temperatures there should fall to 32 degrees or lower.
The warning covers northern Saratoga, northern and southern Washington and southeast Warren counties. That includes Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs and Whitehall. "Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing," the weather service warned.
Northern Pennsylvania got its own freeze warning early Tuesday. Forecasters in State College expected lows as cold as 30 degrees in McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties. That area includes Bradford, St. Marys and Coudersport. "Valley locations and sheltered areas will experience the coldest temperatures," they said.
Frost is likely across a wider area. Frost advisories cover northern Connecticut and Orange and Putnam counties in New York overnight into Wednesday. They also cover Sussex County in New Jersey and Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. Parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont's Champlain Valley are included, with lows near 33. Parts of central Michigan had an advisory until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Here's what forecasters mean. A frost advisory means frost may form on plants. A freeze warning is a step up: temperatures are expected to drop low enough to kill most tender plants, and it often marks the end of the growing season in that area.
What to do tonight: Cover tomatoes, peppers and flowers with sheets or buckets, or bring potted plants inside. Unhook garden hoses and drain outdoor faucets if they aren't freeze-proof. Check that pets and livestock have warm shelter and water that won't freeze.
There is an upside for leaf peepers. Cold nights help fall color develop faster, Pennsylvania's forestry agency says. Potter and McKean counties, both under the freeze warning, should peak around this weekend.
What we know: Freeze warnings and frost advisories are posted for the overnight hours into Wednesday morning across the Northeast.
What we don't: Exactly how low each valley will drop, since sheltered spots run colder than forecast points.
Where outlets agree The National Weather Service and The Post-Star both report a freeze warning from midnight to 8 a.m. Wednesday with temperatures at or below 32 degrees.
Where they differ Forecasters expect valleys and sheltered spots to run colder than nearby towns, so how hard the freeze hits will vary from yard to yard.