Freeze Warning Issued In Maryland

Freezing temperatures are possible overnight in parts of Maryland, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a freeze warning for the region. The temperature may dip to 30 degrees.

Frost and freezing conditions could damage crops, sensitive vegetation and outdoor plumbing Friday morning, weather officials advised.

To prepare plants for the freezing conditions, people should cover them.

To keep pipes from bursting, drain the water and then wrap the pipes, officials advise.

Those with in-ground sprinkler systems are encouraged to drain them and cover above-ground pipes to keep them from freezing, according to the freeze warning.

The freeze warning is effective from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday, April 17.

It applies to Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Talbot and Washington counties and Baltimore City.

Here is the forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52 and low near 29.

Friday: Frost before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53 and low of 36. Light southeast wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. A slight chance of rain after 2 p.m. Chance of daytime precipitation is 30 percent, climbing to 80 percent at night.

Saturday: High near 54 and low of 37. Rain, mainly before 8 a.m. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 6 1and low around 49. There's a 30 percent chance of rain at night.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48 and low of 39. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63 and low around 42.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.