COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County and southwest Michigan are bracing for a late-season cold snap this weekend that could bring damaging frost and sub-freezing temperatures to the area.
Forecasters expect a cold front to move through late this week, with overnight lows on Friday and Saturday mornings potentially dipping into the upper 20s and low 30s across southern Michigan.
This hard freeze poses a significant threat to “tender” vegetation and early-season crops, such as fruit trees and freshly planted annuals, which have already begun blooming due to recent mild weather.
Agricultural experts say residents to take immediate precautions to safeguard sensitive plants.
Recommendations include covering outdoor vegetation with blankets or buckets and ensuring that in-ground sprinkler systems are drained to prevent pipe damage. While a warming trend with highs in the 70s is expected to return by the following week, this brief plunge into freezing territory marks a critical “danger zone” for the local growing season.
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