UPDATE (Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1:42 p.m.): The National Weather Service has upgraded its previous freeze watch to a freeze warning, and expanded it to also include inland portions of the South Bay as well as the Central Coast. The updated freeze warning went into effect Wednesday at 2 a.m. and is scheduled to last until Friday 9 a.m. A complete map of the areas impacted can be seen below.
A freeze watch is issued when "significant, widespread freezing temperatures are expected," according to the agency's website.
The original story is posted below (Monday, Feb, 21):
Following record-setting hot temperatures earlier this month, a dry cold front has swept through the Bay Area this week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a freeze watch for parts of the region.
Afternoon temperatures through the week for most of the Bay Area are expected to only reach the 50s before dipping into the 30s and 40s overnight, agency meteorologist Sean Miller told KCBS Radio.
He added that nighttime temperatures, especially inland in the East and North Bay, could plummet to as low as the upper 20s.
The most frigid temperatures are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The agency has issued a freeze watch for the North Bay, Salinas Valley and San Benito County, for each night and morning from Tuesday until Friday.
"A freeze watch is issued when there is a potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24 to 36 hours," according to the National Weather Service website.
"It's certainly interesting, we had quite a pattern change," Miller said. "It’s been a roller coaster for us."
The region is just two weeks removed from a rare February heat wave, which set record high temperatures for multiple cities. Miller said such a dramatic swing in weather can happen when a "strong system" passes through, but admitted "it's just not something we see happen every day."
"It's certainly quite notable for us this time of year," he said.
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