TOLEDO, Ohio — The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for several northwest Ohio counties Tuesday ahead of an expected freeze Wednesday. Here's what to know.
According to the NWS, the freeze warning has been issued for Wednesday between the hours of 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. During this time, plants can be damaged by freezing temperatures.
What temperature causes a freeze warning?
Freeze warnings are issued when temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees and below - the freezing point of water - within the next 24 to 36 hours.
On Wednesday, the overnight temperature in Toledo is expected to be as low as 30 degrees. However, if temperatures don't quite reach freezing early Wednesday, the WTOL 11 Weather Team is forecasting another high chance for a freeze early Thursday. This is right on average for the first freeze of the year, which in Toledo is Oct. 17.
Freeze warnings have been issued across most northwest Ohio counties for early Wednesday. They are pictured below:
Impacts of a hard freeze
While freezing overnight temperatures in mid-October are normal, the National Weather Service said freezing temperatures can kill crops, other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
If you have outdoor plants sensitive to freezing temperatures, they should be brought indoors or otherwise protected.
How does a freeze warning differ from a frost advisory?
While a freeze warning occurs when temperatures are expected to go below 32 degrees, a frost advisory can happen when temperatures are in the mid 30s, typically around 36 degrees.
While the average first frost in Toledo is on Oct. 6, northwest Ohio has not had its first frost yet. If the first freeze occurs Wednesday or Thursday, Toledo would see its first freeze before its first frost.
