'Coolest temperatures we've had so far': Freeze watch for the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night, Thursday morning

• The current weather pattern will send overnight lows into the 20s for the first time this season
• A freeze watch is in effect for the Lehigh Valley Wednesday night into Thursday
• This will officially end the growing season

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley will join a large swath of the country in sharing frost and freeze headlines this week as temperatures fall into the 20s for the first time this season.

Early Tuesday, freeze watches and warnings extended from North Texas through parts of the Southeast and into the mid-Atlantic region.

“The spookiest day on the calendar may have a few tricks this time as record-breaking cold spreads its eerie touch from the southern Plains to the central/southern Appalachians,” a bulletin from the National Weather Service said.

The short-range outlook said this crisp autumn air mass “will lead to a shivering Halloween throughout much of the central and eastern United States.”

‘Coolest temperatures we’ve had so far’

The current pattern will bring us “the coolest temperatures we’ve had so far this fall,” according to EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich.

Martrich said some areas across Northeast Pennsylvania could even see their first snowflakes Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

“Just don’t expect any accumulations with it,” he said in his latest video forecast. “These are snowflakes, not necessarily snow sticking. It’s just a quick snow shower, so it’s not like it’s going to be a concentrated thing.”

Highs Tuesday are expected to be in the low 50s, while Wednesday will bring highs in the upper 40s for the Lehigh Valley.

‘Many areas will end their growing season’

A freeze watch issued by the weather service looks to sub-freezing temperatures expected Wednesday night into Thursday ranging from 26 to 29 degrees.

Freeze watches are issued when there is potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours.

“Many areas will end their growing season over the next few days from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, including parts of the Deep South,” the weather service said.

For those who haven’t disconnected hose bibs or taken the time to winterize exposed pipes, they also may be at risk of freezing or bursting if proper precautions aren’t taken.

Highs on Thursday will be similar to those on Wednesday, but conditions will be dry and temperatures will begin to moderate back to near and above normal this weekend, perhaps pushing into the low 60s.