Well, Fall has arrived: pumpkins, Halloween, and the changing leaves are just some of the reasons that many people love this time of the year! But with all of the great things that come along with the Autumn season, a much cooler air is certainly one of them. Our average daylight will also continue to decrease and nights will get longer as we near the start of Daylight Savings in early November. And with all that combined, it won't be long until we see the first frost develop.
So the question then becomes: When will the first frost/freeze occur? And better yet, snowbirds will be asking when the first snow flakes fly! It's only a matter of time before we do see the first measurable snowfall. In any case, the graphics below show the average dates for the first frost and first freezes for select cities across the Northeast and Midwest.
Note: Outlying rural areas and suburbs typically have earlier dates on average
Note how much later the first frost occurs as you head south and into the biggest metro areas. Places like New York and Washington, D.C. see the first freeze later in the month of November, while Concord, NH can have it occur as early as late September!
With the first frost and freeze cycles comes the beginning of the end for farmers and nurseries. When temperatures get too cold and the ground is able to freeze quick enough, the growing season is officially over. But what is the growing season? Well, it's a time of year, typically when soil temperatures 20 in (50 cm) below the surface are above 40F. For simplicity purposes, it's the time between the last frost of the Spring and the first in the Fall. And the length is determined by minimal low temperatures. Certain ranges have different impacts on plants and crops, which the USDA has laid out nicely below:
