Frost/Freeze To End Growing Season In Most Of Vermont

It was the chilliest early morning since last spring today when I took the dogs out to their business here in  St. Albans.

Just before dawn, drizzle was propelled by winds gusting over 25 mph and the temperature was only in the mid-40s. Raw!

That sets the stage for tonight. It'll clear up during the day today, and winds will die down tonight. Those are perfect conditions for a fall frost and freeze. It also won't get that warm today, so temperatures won't have to drop much tonight to get into the danger zone.

Most of Vermont is under a freeze warning, except for the Champlain Valley, which is under a frost advisory.

Some sections of Vermont have already had frost and freezes, but tonight's will be the most widespread of the season.  It's the end of the garden for most of us, I'm afraid.

This is actually coming right about on schedule.

For instance, in Rutland and Montpelier, the average first freeze of the season is on September 30.  In Burlington, the average first freeze is October 7.  So we're right in the ballpark this year.

In the Champlain Valley, including Burlington, it might not even get below freezing tonight.  But it doesn't have to get down to 32 degrees to have frost. Temperatures are typically measured at about five feet off the ground.

On clear, calm nights, like what is in the forecast tonight, it can be 35 degrees at eye level, but 32 degrees right on the ground. (cold air sinks, right?)  That's why the Champlain Valley is under a frost advisory, and not a freeze warning in other parts of Vermont.  Away from the lake, temperatures are indeed forecast to go below 32 degrees tonight.

Two corners of Vermont are not under any advisories tonight. Grand Isle, with its proximity to relatively warm Lake Champlain waters, will stay relatively warm and should mostly avoid a frost.

Essex County, way up there in the Northeast Kingdom, is also not under any freeze alerts. That's because that area has already had a killing freeze, so it's pretty much pointless to issue another freeze warning up there.

It'll be a crisp, nice fall day Saturday, but it will cloud up Sunday in advance of the next rainstorm.