Early Frost And Strong Winds Lash Pennsylvania, Shelters Activated, Officials Warn Of Outages

Harrisburg, United States— Wind is coming fast and the temperature will drop hard. Pennsylvania opened emergency shelters Monday as the National Weather Service warned of strong winds and an early seasonal frost. The alert covers most of the state.

The forecast calls for gusts up to 50 mph and overnight lows near 28 degrees. That is early. Normally frost does not hit this hard until mid-November. Officials said the combination of wind and cold puts power lines, crops, and people on the street at risk.

County emergency managers in Philadelphia, Allegheny and Dauphin opened shelters by afternoon. The city of Pittsburgh said three recreation centers would stay open overnight. Volunteers brought cots, blankets and hot food. The Red Cross was put on standby.

"We have not seen a frost like this so early in several years," a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College said. "Add strong winds and you get wind chills in the low 20s. That is dangerous for anyone outside."

Utilities are watching. PECO and Duquesne Light said crews were staged. Trees still have leaves. Wind can snap branches and take lines down. Last year a similar gust pattern left 40,000 without power. They said restoration could be slow if winds stay high.

Farmers rushed to cover. In Lancaster County, growers said they were pulling late-season produce and covering strawberries. One orchard owner said a hard frost now could cut his apple yield. He hired extra hands to pick.

Homeless outreach teams went out in Philadelphia and Harrisburg. They handed out notices about shelter locations. Police said they would transport anyone who needed it. Hospitals were told to expect cases of hypothermia and wind-related injuries.

Schools have not closed but districts said bus delays were possible Tuesday morning. PennDOT warned drivers of debris and possible icy patches on bridges in northern counties. The frost advisory is set to remain until Wednesday morning.

The front is moving. Temperatures should rise by midweek but another system is behind it.