Hundreds of thousands of people face rare summer frost alerts on Thursday morning as temperatures plummet .

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued frost advisories across large swathes of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, with temperatures set to fall to as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit in parts.

Why It Matters

Although the meteorological summer ended on August 31, the astronomical summer will end on September 22 when the autumnal equinox occurs. The unseasonably cold conditions threaten to harm sensitive outdoor vegetation, and some plants may be killed if left uncovered, the NWS said.

"Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold," the agency told residents in affected regions.

What To Know

In Minnesota, a frost advisory is in force until 8 a.m. CT on Thursday for

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