Predicting the Last Frost

Photo Copyright 2010 by Elissa Davis

UPDATE April 3, 2010: Temps are predicted to reach down to 31 degrees on Thursday, April 8 (evening or early morning of Friday, April 9). See forecast. Will this be the last frost? Put your guess in now and you might win a prize!

Above: The calendar said March 16, but a local photographer above captured some blooming Snowdrops in her backyard here in Warren, Pennsylvania. They grow wild and are cultivated around here, according to Elissa Davis who also serves as a local substitute music teacher.

First the Maple sap started flowing on sunny days, then the robins came to visit. The snow is gone but we still have the snowdrops to remind us how dramatically the seasons change here on the Allegheny High Plateau region. It was a pleasant and Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Aside from the end of Spring flood watches, local farmers and do-it-yourself horticulturists (we used to call them gardeners) are now awaiting the last frost of the season. It's a tough thing to predict, probably because you don't when it is until a week or so after it occurs.

Cold weather can come down from Canada at any time and it is only recently that we had a few nights above the freezing temperature. Even though schoolchildren and shoppers may be seen walking around during warm days in shirtsleeves, nighttime temperatures all week are predicted to be well under the freezing mark of 32 degrees.

Who knows when the last frost will be? If you do, please let us know by using the comment function link below this article. If you are right, and the first person to guess correctly, Allegheny Almanac will send you a free prize (free prizes are much nicer than ones you have to pay for!) The winner gets a free brand-spanking new copy of Jeff Mitchell's "Hiking the Allegheny National Forest," the world's greatest and most detailed guide to exploring the wilderness of Northwest Pennsylvania--our own backyard here in Warren, Pennsylvania.

 There is no need to log in to post a comment on the beautiful photo here or even hazard a guess as to when start planting. The Allegheny Almanac weather page will be used to determine when the last frost of the season occurred.

And if you don't win, you can still enjoy our spectacular Spring and still get a chance to read Jeff Mitchell's groundbreaking book (I think they are still on sale at Author's Books & Music -- the new bookstore in downtown Warren on Liberty Street.)




Reproduction or digital manipulation of photo for re-use is strictly prohibited without permission of the photographer.

Comments

[editor]

thanks for a great foto, elissa!

[Scott McInturff]

May 14