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Winter is Coming: Freeze warning issued in Alexandria for Wednesday night and Thursday morning

Cold front heading toward Northern Virginia (image via National Weather Service/Twitter)

Trick-or-treaters last night might have noticed a chill in the air and the National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed it’s likely to get colder tonight.

The NWS has issued a freeze warning from 11 p.m. this evening (Wednesday) to 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday). The source is a cold front pushing through the region with potentially hazardous driving conditions tonight.

According to the NWS:

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT
THURSDAY…

* WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 expected.

* WHERE…Portions of central, northern, northeast, and southern
Maryland, The District of Columbia, central and northern
Virginia, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

* WHEN…From 11 PM this evening to 10 AM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

NWS said locals should take steps to protect tender plants from the cold. Outdoor water pipes should be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly to prevent freezing or possible bursting. Those with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain and cover above-ground pipes.

As for whether Alexandria will have a snowy winter season, experts were mixed earlier this year on the chances for snow, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting higher than-average temperatures in Northern Virginia this winter but Washington Post predicting above-average snowfall.