Last week's blistering, historic heat around the Philadelphia area has been replaced by frigid winterlike weather which could cause significant damage to crops and the local ecosystem.
Temperatures will plummet into the low 30s and perhaps even the upper 20s in parts of the region Monday night into Tuesday warning, sparking Code Blue declarations and concerns about the environment.
Accuweather's Geoff Cornish described the freeze as "widespread, potentially damaging," but noted that it "could represent the last freeze of the season for most major metro areas."
High temperatures will barely break 50 Monday before the cold sets in.
The lows in the Philly area will range from 10 to 20 degrees below the historical average, forecasters said.
“Frost and freeze conditions on consecutive mornings can compound the damage," Accuweather's Tyler Roys added. "The first cold snap may weaken blossoms, and the second can finish them off, especially for crops like apples, peaches, and berries that are already in sensitive growth stages."
Things will start to warm up after Tuesday, forecasters said, with highs reaching 69 Wednesday and 73 Thursday.
A few showers are possible this week as well, mainly Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and then possibly again on Friday.
Here's the full forecast for the Philadelphia area over the coming week, according to the National Weather Service:
Monday
A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday
A chance of showers, mainly before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 73.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Saturday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Saturday Night
Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Across Pennsylvania Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.