Weather Alert Issued for Three States as Temperatures Plunge

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued a frost advisory across three Northeastern states as a cold front causes temperatures in the region to plunge to below-normal levels.

The advisory comes as a cold front brings cooler weather into the Northeast and Midwest this week while the Southwest is once again battling extreme temperatures. Several states have already experienced a taste of cooler weather, such as last week in Montana, when a storm system dumped 12 inches of snow in Glacier National Park.

On Monday night, the cold weather will affect New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania. The frost advisory will remain in place through 9 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday for all affected areas.

NWS meteorologist Tony Ansuini told Newsweek that in some areas low temperatures will be as much as 15 degrees below normal. The cold snap is expected to last one or two days, Ansuini said. The low temperatures follow a cold front that moved through the area yesterday.

“Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left unprotected,” the advisory said. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

The frost advisory is most widespread in New York, affecting the cities of Lowville, Olean, Wellsville, Wells, Eagle Bay, Old Forge, Atwell, Big Moose, Nobleboro, McKeever, Sabattis, Hoffmeister, Long Lake, Northwood, Lake Placid, Newcomb, Star Lake, Tupper Lake, South Colton and Saranac Lake.

Other affected are Coudersport, St. Marys, Bradford and Ridgway in Pennsylvania and Island Pond and Lunenburg in Vermont.

In most cities, temperatures in the low- to mid-30s are expected and could cause frost formation, the advisory said. Temperatures between 33 and 36 degrees are expected across the Albany, New York, forecast region, which also may result in frost formation.

Frost forms when temperatures are cold enough to freeze dew into ice. Temperatures must be at 32 degrees or below, but frost can still crystallize even if outside temperatures are above freezing because temperatures can be as much as 10 degrees colder close to the ground.

By midweek, temperatures are expected to return to the upper 70s and low 80s across western New York, Ansuini said.

The NWS Climate Prediction Center said temperatures are expected to be below normal from the central U.S. eastward, excluding Florida. The greatest risk of below-normal temperatures is concentrated in the Midwest, including Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The western half of the U.S. is expecting above-normal temperatures, with some high temperatures forecast to be as much as 10 degrees above normal.

As of Monday morning, an excessive heat watch was in place for Southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona.