Freeze Warning Issued for Parts of Massachusetts as Temperatures Dip
A freeze warning has been issued for areas north and west of Boston, Massachusetts, as temperatures are forecast to fall to or just below 32 degrees early Friday. The cold snap poses a significant threat to tender plant life, potentially causing substantial damage.
This late-season freeze comes as the Boston area experiences a warming trend that is extending the growing season. Over the past 50 years,climate change has shifted the average first frost and freeze dates nearly a week later,with fall being the second fastest warming season in the region,behind only winter. While a frost – where water vapor freezes on surfaces – isn’t always harmful, a freeze can be deadly to vulnerable vegetation.
How Cold Will It get?
Temperatures at or just below freezing are expected in areas north and west of Boston on Friday morning. Even temperatures near or slightly above 32 degrees can cause frost to form.
Protecting Your Plants
While this freeze is expected to be a “one-off” event, with no similarly cold temperatures anticipated for at least a week, residents are advised to take precautions to protect sensitive plants.Potted plants can be brought indoors overnight. For plants in the ground, options include covering them with cloth or blankets, providing extra water the night before, or adding a layer of mulch around the base.
Climate change and the Growing Season
The lengthening growing season is a direct result of climate change, according to WBZ-TV Executive Weather Producer Terry Eliasen. The fall season has warmed considerably in recent decades, impacting traditional frost and freeze patterns.
