dailyloe.com – The National Weather Service issued a freeze watch for Philadelphia and surrounding counties effective from late Monday night through Tuesday morning. This warning follows a week of record-breaking heat where temperatures reached 90 degrees. The agency forecasts subfreezing temperatures as low as 27 degrees on Monday night. This cold could damage crops, outdoor vegetation, and unprotected outdoor plumbing.
The weather cooled significantly over the weekend after the extreme heat. Sunday was mostly overcast with light rain and wind gusts up to 25 mph. The freeze watch applies to Philadelphia County, Delaware County, and New Castle County in Delaware. This marks a sharp swing back to chilly conditions.
April has experienced significant temperature swings, beginning with record-setting heat. A freeze warning was also in effect during the second week of the month. That earlier cold impacted cherry blossoms and other local blooms. The recent unusual heat is attributed to lower than normal rainfall in Philadelphia.
A monthslong drought in New Jersey has coincided with the lack of shade from trees. Trees are still regrowing their leaves this early in spring. Highs last Wednesday and Thursday were roughly 25 degrees higher than normal for those dates. Historically, 90-degree days in April are not unusual for the region.
The abrupt weather changes do not strongly predict summer conditions. Some may view the recent temperature spikes as a chance to prepare for Philadelphia’s summer heat. Inquirer weather reporter Tony Wood summarized the situation last week. He said, “April is a month for all seasons.”
