Photo: Marccophoto / iStock / Getty Images
The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Watch for the entire state of New Jersey, with the exception of Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties. The watch is also in effect for portions of Pennsylvania and New York. The watch will be in effect from late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
A Freeze Watch is a notice that announces the possibility of temperatures dropping to 32 °F (0 °C) and below within the next 48 hours. This watch is particularly significant during the growing season when such freezing temperatures may damage or kill unharvested crops, effectively ending the growing season.
In this instance, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 26 degrees are possible. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions to protect sensitive plants from the cold, as these temperatures can cause significant damage to crops and other sensitive vegetation. Home irrigation systems and exterior faucets may also be prone to freezing which could cause pipes to burst.
Freeze Watchs are typically issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season, which is marked by the occurrence of the first widespread freeze.