Freeze warning issued for northern and western Philadelphia suburbs as season's coldest morning arrives

Parts of Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties were placed under a National Weather Service freeze warning in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday, covering the northern and western sections of those counties, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The rest of the region was under a frost advisory, the paper said.

The Inquirer said readings in some areas could dip below 32 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. That would mark the first such cold since the April freezes that hurt the region's peach and apple crops.

CBS Philadelphia reported that Saturday was expected to bring the chilliest morning of the season. The station said the city's most recent colder reading came on April 21, with a low of 34 degrees.

Forecasts for the city itself stop short of a freeze. CBS Philadelphia said lows near I-95 should settle in the mid-to-upper 30s, enough for scattered frost, while communities north and west of the city could get close to freezing. The station predicted a Saturday low of 39. The Inquirer said the airport and the I-95 corridor were expected to remain above 32, though roughly 10 degrees colder than typical for this point in October.

Wind will largely determine whether a hard freeze occurs, according to Nick Guzzo, a meteorologist with the weather service's Mount Holly office, the Inquirer reported. Calm air under clear skies would let warmth escape rapidly overnight, the paper said.

Afternoons are expected to turn mild and bright. CBS Philadelphia called for a Saturday high of 64, a nearly identical Sunday, and afternoon temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s. By late next week, the station said, highs should reach the low and mid-70s under a mix of sun and clouds.

Both outlets pointed to an extended dry spell. According to the Inquirer, a persistent high-pressure system is likely to block rain for the remainder of the month, and AccuWeather's long-range outlook showed no precipitation before Election Day. CBS Philadelphia said early signs suggest Halloween will bring temperatures in the 60s and partly cloudy conditions.

The crisp weather coincides with fall color approaching its height. Drawing on a weekly update from the state's conservation and natural resources agency, the Inquirer said leaves in the area will probably peak close to Halloween.

Jana Tidwell, a spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance, asked drivers out to see the foliage to stay watchful. "Expect increased traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, and wildlife near scenic routes, overlooks, parks, and rural roads," she said, according to the Inquirer. She also recommended that motorists stop somewhere safe to take in the scenery rather than look while driving.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/416