First Frost and Freeze Arriving Across the Appalachians and Northeast
First Frost and Freeze Arriving Across the Appalachians and Northeast
Well, folks, it looks like Mother Nature is finally ready to put an end to the growing season.
Our first real surge of cold air is coming next week, and it's going to bring the first widespread frost and freeze threat of the season across the Appalachians and into the Northeast.
Here Comes the Cold
By Tuesday morning and again Wednesday morning, temperatures are likely to drop into the 28° to 34° range across many areas.
And that means we're not just talking about a little frost on the windshield.
Some locations are going to experience a hard freeze, while others will see a widespread killing frost.
The colder valleys and higher elevations will be especially vulnerable, with some of the coldest locations potentially dropping into the lower 20s.
That could be enough to put an official end to the growing season in many areas.
Gardeners, This Is Your Warning
If you've still got gardens, flowers or vegetable plants that you want to keep around for another few weeks, now is the time to protect them.
Cover those plants on Monday night and again Tuesday night where necessary.
A blanket, frost cloth or other appropriate covering can make a big difference when temperatures drop below freezing.
Because once you get into the upper 20s and lower 30s for several hours, some plants simply aren't going to survive.
And unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't care how much time you spent growing those tomatoes!
FREEZE MEANS FREEZE. 😂
The Longer Nights Are Working Against Us
There's another reason this cold air is going to be so effective.
The nights are getting longer.
We're now losing daylight each evening, which gives the atmosphere more time to cool after sunset.
Once the sun goes down, temperatures can fall rapidly, especially under clear skies and light winds.
That means some locations could experience three to four hours or more of freezing temperatures during the overnight period.
And those colder valleys and mountain locations can really get hammered.
The Appalachians, Adirondacks and other colder terrain will be particularly susceptible to those lower temperatures.
The Growing Season Is Winding Down
This is really the first major signal that we're making the transition from autumn into the colder part of the year.
We've had plenty of warm days.
We've had plenty of sunshine.
We've had plenty of time to enjoy the gardens.
But now we're getting that first serious reminder:
WINTER IS COMING.
For many gardeners, this freeze will mark the end of the season.
For others, it will simply mean it's time to start protecting those plants and squeezing a few more weeks out of the growing season.
Either way, this is the kind of cold that deserves some attention.
So if you've got plants you want to save, don't wait until Tuesday morning to figure out what you're going to do.
Get them covered ahead of time.
Because once that temperature drops into the 20s...
THAT'S IT.
The first real frost and freeze of the season is coming to the Appalachians and Northeast, and it's another reminder that the seasons are changing whether we're ready for it or not.
And personally, I'm not sure I'm ready for it.
I'm still cutting the grass!