MD Weather: Freeze Warning, Frost Advisory Issued Overnight

MARYLAND — Overnight low temperatures will hover around the freezing mark across Maryland Wednesday night and early Thursday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue freeze warnings and frost advisories for most of the state.

Both the freeze warning and the frost advisory will be in effect from 1 to 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Areas under the freeze warning or frost advisory include Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, St. Marys, Calvert, Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Allegany, Montgomery, Howard, and Harford counties.

Also included are the cities of Washington, Baltimore, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, Chesapeake Beach, Huntingtown and North Beach.

Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation, which could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.

“Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the NWS said.

Residents should take step to protect plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing, the weather service said.

Temperatures are predicted to rebound by the weekend and into the final week of October across the central and eastern U.S., Accuweather.com reported.

"The pattern may set up where we could get a couple of cold shots in November," AccuWeather senior meteorologist and long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said.

He added that the chance for storms will accompany the waves of cold air, potentially even around Thanksgiving. That will not be an indicator of how the entire season will play out, Pastelok explained.

Even though snowfall throughout the winter is predicted to be lower than normal from the mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and into parts of the central Plains, it will not be a tranquil winter. Less snow than average but cooler temperatures are likely in the Mid-Atlantic region.

By Friday afternoon, sunny skies will help the temperatures rise into the middle to upper 60s. By Saturday, expect sunny skies and a return to near 70-degree temperatures.

Here's the NWS forecast for Maryland for the next few days:

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. South wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%.