Freezing Temps in the northeast this weekend?

AlittleSalt · May 22, 2015

I just heard on AccuWeather that there's a chance of hard freeze tonight in the north eastern states. It still freezes in late May?

**Mischka** · May 22, 2015

This is the weekend when most people plant out their tomato seedlings here in New England.

Historically, the chances of a frost/freeze occurring on (or past) Memorial day are infinitesimally low. This weekend's forecast means big trouble for us. I have far too many to cover, so I'm hoping my high elevation keeps the temp a few degrees above frost.

**carolyn137** · May 22, 2015

Yes, frost warnings are out for my area in upstate NY, on the VT border, possible lows in the high 20's, but I have no tomato plants out yet, never have them put out until usually the first week in June.

And that timing b'c while the last average frost date here is May15th I've seen some really BAD snowstorms as late as the end of May/early June, not common, but since I'm a Senior citizen I've seen many May snowstorms in my time.

I really worry about the apple blossoms since where I live is apple country and also the peach and pear and strawberry blossoms as well.

Carolyn

rhines81 · May 22, 2015

Memorial Day is early this year. Usually the last weekend of May is planting time here. 1st week of June is even better for tomatoes and peppers.

Father'sDaughter · May 23, 2015

Mine went out last weekend and thankfully we're only supposed to dip below 40f for an hour or two before sunrise.

MarineCorps · May 23, 2015

it's not so bad here on the cape. mid 40s for a couple hours around sunrise No frost worries here. Though my tomatoes are just starting to flower in my little tiny greenhouse, but thats what my space heater and WEMO switch are for.

Gardeneer · May 23, 2015

I hope it does not happen.

Here is a temp map at 1:45 AM , EDT.
There are some 40s in the general area of New England and 30s up up way north Maine ?
Coastal areas and further south should be fine

pauldavid · May 23, 2015

It seems like everybodys growing season is outta whack

Tracydr · May 23, 2015

Woke up to a very nice 48 degrees this AM. I'm near the border of central N/S Carolina. Quite chilly this AM from what it has been.

beefsteak · May 23, 2015

20°F here this morning at 5:00 but I checked my maters, uncovered them and watered the leaves before the sun came up and I think they will be OK.
A couple of pics from this morning. Attached Images

beefsteak · May 23, 2015

Don't know how that double picture got in there, did not show up in preview.

AlittleSalt · May 23, 2015

Oh my, 20F.

beefsteak · May 23, 2015

Yes salt 20° which is why some of you folks in Texas are eating maters when we are just thinking about planting.

**carolyn137** · May 23, 2015

At 6:30 AM here at my home it was 34F but when Freda got here she said that those at a lower elevation did get frost.

When I click on Intellicast there are also three local reports, two from my immediate local area where these folks maintain weather stations and then one that switches from Cossayuna Lake, a bit to my west and one just across the border in VT.

So much depends on elevation, how near water, sloping terrain or not, winds, how strong, humidity levels, and other variables, that frost and freeze alerts can never accurately predict who will be affected and who will not.

Carolyn, the farmer's daughter who remembers her father putting stacks of tires in some fields when frost/freeze was predicted, then getting up about 4 AM and pouring kerosene on those piles to make a smudge of particles, and it usually worked, but she didn't know why until she was much much older and found out about particles that caused ice nucleation,pretty much the same way that spraying with water citrus groves in the south and strawberry fields almost anywhere worked.

pauldavid · May 23, 2015

Good luck to everyone up north. I hope you guys had everything covered.

May 22, 2015	#1
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Freezing Temps in the northeast this weekend? I just heard on AccuWeather that there's a chance of hard freeze tonight in the north eastern states. It still freezes in late May?

May 22, 2015	#2
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	This is the weekend when most people plant out their tomato seedlings here in New England. Historically, the chances of a frost/freeze occurring on (or past) Memorial day are infinitesimally low. This weekend's forecast means big trouble for us. I have far too many to cover, so I'm hoping my high elevation keeps the temp a few degrees above frost. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

May 22, 2015	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Yes, frost warnings are out for my area in upstate NY, on the VT border, possible lows in the high 20's, but I have no tomato plants out yet, never have them put out until usually the first week in June. And that timing b'c while the last average frost date here is May15th I've seen some really BAD snowstorms as late as the end of May/early June, not common, but since I'm a Senior citizen I've seen many May snowstorms in my time. I really worry about the apple blossoms since where I live is apple country and also the peach and pear and strawberry blossoms as well. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

May 23, 2015	#14
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	At 6:30 AM here at my home it was 34F but when Freda got here she said that those at a lower elevation did get frost. When I click on Intellicast there are also three local reports, two from my immediate local area where these folks maintain weather stations and then one that switches from Cossayuna Lake, a bit to my west and one just across the border in VT. So much depends on elevation, how near water, sloping terrain or not, winds, how strong, humidity levels, and other variables, that frost and freeze alerts can never accurately predict who will be affected and who will not. Carolyn, the farmer's daughter who remembers her father putting stacks of tires in some fields when frost/freeze was predicted, then getting up about 4 AM and pouring kerosene on those piles to make a smudge of particles, and it usually worked, but she didn't know why until she was much much older and found out about particles that caused ice nucleation,pretty much the same way that spraying with water citrus groves in the south and strawberry fields almost anywhere worked. __________________ Carolyn

May 22, 2015	#4
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Memorial Day is early this year. Usually the last weekend of May is planting time here. 1st week of June is even better for tomatoes and peppers.

May 23, 2015	#5
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Mine went out last weekend and thankfully we're only supposed to dip below 40f for an hour or two before sunrise.

May 23, 2015	#6
MarineCorps Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 34	it's not so bad here on the cape. mid 40s for a couple hours around sunrise No frost worries here. Though my tomatoes are just starting to flower in my little tiny greenhouse, but thats what my space heater and WEMO switch are for.

May 23, 2015	#8
pauldavid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A Posts: 1,179	It seems like everybodys growing season is outta whack

May 23, 2015	#9
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Woke up to a very nice 48 degrees this AM. I'm near the border of central N/S Carolina. Quite chilly this AM from what it has been.

May 23, 2015	#11
beefsteak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NW PA zone 5 Posts: 121	Don't know how that double picture got in there, did not show up in preview.