National Weather Service issues freeze warning for southwest Pa. counties

A frost advisory for Wednesday morning has been canceled, but the National Weather Service says even colder weather is possible later tonight into Thursday morning.

A freeze warning has been issued for 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. It will run from 11 p.m. until 9 a.m. Thursday, meteorologist Lee Hendricks said.

The counties covered are Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland.

After a high in the mid-40s Wednesday, the temperature is expected to get as low as 28 degrees, Hendricks said. That’s well below the normal high of 67 and low of 45.

A Freeze Warning has been issued for the counties across the forecast area that have entered the growing season. Temperatures near or below freezing are expected tonight. pic.twitter.com/mBJU02veKP

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) April 27, 2022

With the temperature that cold, Hendricks said there is a potential for both frost and a hard freeze.

“If you have anything sensitive out, if you got started soon in the garden, you better cover everything up,” he said.

No precipitation is expected. “It’s just going to be cold,” Hendricks said.

The warning covers a larger area than the frost advisory, which was issued Tuesday and had been scheduled for 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday

The advisory was canceled at 6 a.m., Hendricks said.

“Some places got some frost, but not many,” he said. “The cold temperatures weren’t quite as widespread as initallly feared.”

The region is still expected to warm into the weekend. After a cold start Thursday, Hendricks said the high should reach the mid-50s under sunny skies, but a low in the lower 30s Thursday night could bring the risk for frost again.

Sun is expected again Friday, with a high around 60 degrees, Hendricks said.