Check your plants and pipes: Freeze watch for Cape Cod tonight
It's going to be a cold night on Cape Cod. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning. Temperatures as low as 28 degrees are possible.
According to the National Weather Service, "Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing."
David McCrossin, professionally known as "Dave the Plumber," and based out of Dennisport, said folks who have already turned on their outdoor showers might be at some risk for frozen pipes tonight, an unpleasant turn of events that could lead to a somewhat hefty repair bill.
"If you want to be 100% safe, you should shut it off and drain the pipes," said McCrossin. This might be a bit of a hassle, especially for people who have to access odd crawl spaces to drain the pipes. For those looking for a quicker method of protection, McCrossin suggested covering exposed pipes with a blanket overnight.
In the gardening department, Cape Cod plant expert C.L. Fornari said she wasn't going to stress about the freeze watch. "I firmly believe that most of the hydrangeas will be fine," she said. "Lettuce and peas will be fine, too."
There could be trouble for folks who have already planted summer crops like cucumbers, said Fornari, but she didn't think many gardeners would tempt fate by risking tender plants this early in the season.
Gardeners who are growing out flats or pots of seedlings should bring them indoors tonight, she said.
Here is the Hyannis forecast from the National Weather Service:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47. North wind 6 to 9 mph.
Thursday night: Clear, with a low around 28. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 5 to 9 mph.
Friday night: Clear, with a low around 34. South wind around 6 mph becoming west after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind around 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday night: A slight chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 11 to 15 mph.
Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod weather forecast: Freeze watch tonight, pipes, plants at risk
