STERLING VA: (Rocktown Now) – Freeze Warning Issued for Region as Temperatures Expected to Plunge Overnight

The National Weather Service has upgraded a previously issued Freeze Watch to a Freeze Warning for parts of the Mid-Atlantic, warning residents to prepare for sub-freezing temperatures overnight into Thursday morning.

The Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight tonight until 9 a.m. EDT Thursday, as temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 20s to lower 30s.

The warning includes portions of northern Maryland, central and northern Virginia, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Meteorologists caution that the cold conditions could lead to widespread frost and freezing temperatures, posing a threat to crops and other sensitive vegetation. Unprotected outdoor plumbing may also be at risk of damage.

Officials urge residents to take immediate precautions, including covering or bringing inside tender plants and ensuring outdoor pipes are properly protected.

This late-season freeze comes as many areas have already begun spring planting, increasing the potential for agricultural impacts.