People Warned as Temperatures Expected to Drop 40 Degrees Overnight

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Spokane, Washington, issued on Friday a freeze watch for several cities in its forecast region as temperatures are forecast to plunge as much as 40 degrees overnight.

The sudden drop in temperatures is not unusual for Washington for this time of year, but it comes as meteorologists warn that temperatures as low as 28 degrees could affect parts of the state and disrupt the growing season.

NWS meteorologist Joey Clevenger told Newsweek that since the nights are getting longer, there's more time for temperatures to drop.

"It's typical to see these 40-plus degree swings," he said.

The freeze watch will remain in place through Sunday morning, although Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be a "little warmer" than Friday night, Clevenger said.

Northeast Washington and northern Idaho are both impacted. Clevenger added that the "best chances for seeing sub-30" temperatures will be around Deer Park, Springdale, Chewelah and Cusick.

Most of those cities are expecting highs in the low 70s during the day on Friday. It's the first freeze watch for the season issued by the Spokane office. Clevenger said the advisory is designed for people, specifically gardeners, to alert them to protect their plants from the cold.

Highs this weekend will be near normal, NWS Spokane posted on X, formerly Twitter , but the low temperatures are below normal. Temperatures in the Spokane region will warm up again next week, Clevenger said. A warm, dry trend will start after Sunday.

In addition to the freeze watch, NWS meteorologists have issued a frost advisory for northwestern Montana for Friday and Saturday night.

"Temperatures as low as 35 will result in frost formation," the advisory said.

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.

The dip in temperatures comes as other states expect a wintery weekend as well, with as much as a foot of snow forecast for high-elevation mountains in Colorado. Meteorologists have issued a winter weather advisory for parts of the state.