While today’s morning temperatures were quite a departure from the chilly, frosty conditions of the past few days, we’re still talking about frosts, freezes, and whether or not everyone has experienced an end to the growing season.  Typically, the season ends with the first hard freeze when crops and plants wither and die or are seriously damaged, but with recent official low temperatures in some locations such as Rochester and La Crosse in the 30s and not below freezing, we have to wonder if that first freeze has officially occurred in terms of seasonal statistics.  After some deliberation, the National Weather Service has determined that yes, most areas have at least experienced a frost and some have endured a hard freeze, and because we’re now a few days past the average first occurrence of those events, we’re now officially beyond the growing season and Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings, what the Weather Service calls “Frost/Freeze Weather Headlines” are done for the year.  Here’s the official statement from their website:

Frost/Freeze Headlines Have Ended for Much of the Area

Posted under climate, fall

Frost Advisories are up for mainly our counties that hug the Mississippi River areas. Temps for everyone will be dipping into the middle to upper 30s, and you’ll have a chance for patchy frost the further east you are tonight.

That cool, dry airmass that’s sitting over us will budge to the east for Wednesday; we up the winds, the warmth, and are following the potential for some stronger storms later Thursday into Friday.

Posted under spring

Almost like clockwork we’re facing the prospect of our first frost in the area tonight as our weather pattern continues to make up for lost time by ushering in some very fall-like conditions this week. 

The average first frost in most of our local area is October 1st, so we’re just abouty right on target tonight.  It’s hard to believe that only a couple of days ago we were still riding the wave of that incredible warm spell that dragged late summer weather into the last full week of September a week ago. 

Well, those summer-like days are gone…for now anyway, as we face the spectre of frost in our weather picture.  With clear skies under an approaching area of high pressure and very light east winds, we’ll have the right ingredients in place for the first widespread frost of the season, that is assuming all of that pesky cloud cover will continue to erode across the region today. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory from midnight tonight through 8:00 tomorrow morning for southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and most of Wisconsin so don’t forget to cover those sensitive outdoor plants or bring them inside if possible.  The good news is, beyond tonight our overnight temperatures will likely be a bit warmer so frost isn’t expected for the next several days.  We’ll just have to get through tonight and maybe then we’ll be able to keep things green and healthy for a while longer.

Posted under climate