Cold Weather Sweeps into New York City, bringing Frost and Freezes

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

October 10,2012; 4:52PM,EDT

 

 

Chilly air is on the move and will deliver some of the lowest temperatures of the season so far to the New York metropolitan area by the weekend.
The second and stronger of two cold fronts will reach the Atlantic coast during the day Friday.
In its wake follows an area of high pressure that had its origins over the Alaska North Slope.
Under clear skies, in dry air and diminishing wind, temperatures will stop above 40 degrees in most urban areas Friday night into Saturday morning. However, lows in the 30s are likely in many suburban locations.
Temperatures will dip low enough to allow the formation of frost in the coldest locations outside of the city. This not only includes portions of northern and central New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut, but also central Long Island.

If you have pepper or tomato plants still bearing fruit, you may want to harvest these items or risk losing them. Annual flowers should be covered or brought indoors if they are potted.

Rooftop or ground-level neighborhood gardens in urban areas should survive without damage during this event as warmth given off from buildings and pavement should keep temperatures higher.
Remember that official temperatures are measured at a height of approximately 6 feet above the ground. Temperatures nearest the ground in grassy, open areas of the countryside can be much lower, hence the danger of a killing frost or freeze in this event.
After a bright, crisp autumn day Saturday, temperatures will rebound to well-above seasonable levels Sunday through much of next week.
As the region turns chilly to start the weekend, violent weather is forecast to erupt over the Central States.