Just when we were all starting to settle into the gentle rhythm of spring — shorts coming out of closets, flowers poking through the soil, and grills firing up across neighborhoods — winter decided to sneak back in one last time.
Tonight, a Freeze Warning will blanket parts of central North Carolina, including Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, catching many by surprise and sending a cold reminder that April weather likes to keep us guessing.
“We Thought We Were in the Clear”
Local gardener Maria Ellis was planting cucumbers and zinnias just two days ago. “We thought we were in the clear,” she said, tugging a light blanket over her raised beds. “This is the last thing we expected right now.”
And she’s not alone. After days of mild weather, most of us weren’t thinking about frozen flowerpots or burst garden hoses.
But between 4 AM and 9 AM Wednesday, temperatures are expected to dip as low as 27 to 32 degrees — cold enough to damage or even kill sensitive plants, and possibly cause trouble for outdoor plumbing.
What You Should Do Before Bed Tonight
If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably already packed away the heavy coats and winter gloves. But tonight calls for just a bit of extra caution. Here’s how to get ready:
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Cover your plants — Tender flowers, vegetables, or shrubs can be shielded with old sheets or blankets.
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Bring in pets — Even a few hours of freezing temps can be rough on outdoor animals.
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Unhook the hose — It only takes one cold snap to cause a cracked faucet or frozen pipe.
It Won’t Last Long — But It’s Real
Thankfully, this won’t be a lingering freeze. The sunshine will return by midday Wednesday, and temperatures will rise back into the low 60s. The rest of the week even looks fairly warm and mild — we’re talking upper 60s and maybe even a few 70s by the weekend.
But still, for one brief stretch overnight, we’ll all be reminded: Spring isn’t always smooth sailing.
North Carolinians know how to ride the wave of unpredictable seasons. One day you’re sunbathing on the porch — the next, you’re scraping frost off your windshield. So tonight, tuck in those plants, give your pets an extra blanket, and maybe hold off on packing away that winter gear just a little longer.
This may just be winter’s last whisper — but it’s a cold one.
