Frosty Times Coming In Vermont, Starting Tonight

The sky over St. Albans, Vermont  had that "cold" look
Wednesday evening, the kind of sky that suggests frost
might be coming. Frost is in the forecast starting tonight
and continuing the next few nights. 

 We've entered a perilous time for persistent late season gardeners in Vermont, as the chances for frosts and freezes increases exponentially. In fact, most nights tonight through early to mid next week will have a chance of frost at least somewhere in Vermont.  

That starts tonight. 

Frost advisories are in effect across all of Vermont, with a harsher freeze warning for the Northeast Kingdom. We've had very little frost until now, so tonight will be a critical night if you want to save late season gardens. 

Though there's no frost advisory in the Champlain Valley, I still think there cold be a few patches of frost there, if you're inland a bit from Lake Champlain. For instance, if your garden is ten feet from, say Malletts Bay, or near the shore in South Hero or Grand Isle, I'm pretty sure you're safe. If your garden is in a low spot in say, Hinesburg, Williston, or Georgia, I'd take frost precautions. 

Remember, frost can form and damage crops even if temperatures technically stay above freezing all night. You usually measure temperatures about five feet off the ground. But on clear, calm nights, it might be 35 degrees at eye level, but 32 right on the ground. 

In the frost advisory area, it would probably be sufficient to cover things tonight with sheets, or just bring them in for the night. It's best to remove the sheets very soon after the sun comes out and temperatures start to rise.

If you don't cover plants and get a little frost, you might be able to save them from much damage if you act quickly.  When temperatures are still bottoming out and the sun hasn't really come up yet, give the frost covered stuff a good spraying with water. It might help.  

You'll need to be prepared for frost through early next week.  The frost will probably be a little more scattered and lighter Friday night and Saturday night as it will just a couple degrees warmer than tonight.

A reinforcing shot of dry, cold air comes in Saturday night. At this point, the risk of frost and freezes Saturday night and Sunday night look even bigger than tonight. I'd say there's still some risk of frost Monday and Tuesday nights as well. 

On the bright side, I'm told chilly weather and nights with light frosts can cause the fall foliage to really pop and become brilliant. Leaves are now rapidly changing across Vermont, and this pace of foliage change will only intensify in this weather.