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The days are getting shorter, and the air is getting a little more crisp in the mornings as we approach the the first day of fall on Sept. 22.
That means the first frost is looming, so make sure to tend to whatever outdoor plants you have before the weather starts heading toward sub-zero temperatures.
The average first frost in Massachusetts occurs between Oct. 1-35. In the City of Boston, the first-frost date is between Nov. 1-10 this year according to the Plantmap website. Here are the dates residents in other parts of the state should be looking to regarding the first frost?
Here’s what to know and how to plan for the first frost.
When is the first frost anticipated in Massachusetts?
Garden.org states that, “Your risk of frost really begins around Oct. 23, and by Nov. 16 you’re almost certain to have received at least one frost event.”
The website calculated average probabilities for the first frost of the year:
You have a small 20% chance of getting 32 degrees by Oct. 28.There is a 50% chance of being hit by a 32 degree frost starting around Nov. 7You have a 80% chance of seeing 32 degrees by Nov. 16What does the Farmer’s Almanac say about the first frost?
The Almanac states that the average first frost in Massachusetts occurs between Oct. 1-15. The Almanac has a tool on its website that allows guests to type in their zip code to find out the time of their town’s first frost.
The following is the Almanac’s level of frost warnings:
Light freeze: 29 degrees to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.7 degrees to 0 degrees Celsius)—tender plants are killed.Moderate freeze: 25 degrees to 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.9 degrees to -2.2 degrees Celsius)—destructive to most vegetation.Severe freeze: 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-4.4 degrees Celsius) and colder—heavy damage to garden plants.What does the National Weather Service say about the first frost?
Meteorologist Candice Hrencecin of the National Weather Service branch in Norton, Massachusetts told USA Network on Tuesday that she doesn’t see a frost coming anytime in the immediate future.
The National Weather Service will only predict as far as eight days away.
“Definitely not,” Hrencecin said when asked if she foresees a frost happening sometime in the next week. “Most people will usually see their first frost around Oct. 11 or so.”
She added while it will cool down a bit this weekend, the beginning of next week will supposedly be in the low 70 degree range.
What are some first frost dates for cities and towns in Massachusetts?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, here are when some towns will allegedly see their first fall frost of the season:
Amherst: Oct. 3New Bedford: Oct. 9Worcester: Oct. 14 Brookline: Oct. 16Cambridge: Oct. 16Fall River: Oct. 29Gloucester: Oct. 7Pittsfield: Oct. 1Plymouth: Oct. 27Quincy: Oct. 15
You can find your town on a list on the Farmer’s Almanac website.
What is the average last frost date?
Last frost dates are estimated based on historical data of when the last freeze – when temperatures drop between 29 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, cool enough to kill tender plants – is likely to occur, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
This information is calculated down to the zip code to help gardeners plan their crops. In Massachusetts, the average last frost date varies depend on where you live.
For example, on Cape Cod the average last frost date in Chatham is April 13, while in Worcester the average last frost date is April 23, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. In Western Mass, the average date often falls in May.
You can look up your local last frost date on this interactive NOAA map.
But even when you know your average last frost date, there is catch.
“The probability of a frost occurring after the spring frost date or before the fall frost date is 30%, which means that there is still a chance of frost occurring before or after the given dates,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac states.
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Publish date : 2024-09-17 21:05:00
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