Freeze Watches Issued For Parts Of Mid-Hudson Valley

MID-HUDSON VALLEY, NY — It’s difficult to believe that after temperatures in the upper 70s and some lower 80s that there is a freeze watch in effect for parts of the mid-Hudson Valley.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for Columbia, Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties.

The watch is in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday in Columbia, Ulster and Dutchess counties and from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Thursday in Orange County.

Temperatures will range from sub-freezing — mid-20s to lower 30s in Columbia, Ulster and Dutchess — to near freezing — as low as 32 — in Orange.

Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage to unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Steps should be taken now to protect tender plants from the cold.

To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and over above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.