Springfield, IL – A hard freeze is expected to hit large parts of central Illinois overnight Monday and early Tuesday, with temperatures dropping as low as 25°F.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Freeze Watch from midnight Monday night until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Sangamon, Champaign, Macon, Vermilion, and surrounding counties are all affected, as are major cities like Springfield, Decatur, and Danville.
The weather service warns that frost and freeze conditions can severely damage sensitive vegetation and endanger unprotected outdoor plumbing systems.
A hard freeze (temperatures below 28°F) is expected with a 70 to 90 percent chance across the region.
Residents are encouraged to take immediate action by covering or bringing in plants and ensuring that outdoor plumbing is insulated or drained.
The timing of the freeze is especially important for early spring growers and gardeners, because new growth may be vulnerable.
This type of freeze is not uncommon in early April, but its widespread nature and intensity may make it one of the most damaging cold snaps of the season.
