TOLEDO, Ohio — We are officially in the fall season and temperatures are starting to cool down. Mornings are chilly and afternoons are warm in September. By the time October rolls around, more afternoons start to be chilly and several mornings start to be cold.
Once temperatures dip into the 30s, it is possible for frost or a freeze.
Frost will develop when temperatures reach the mid 30s and will typically be the first sign of winter weather we see. A freeze occurs when temperatures hit 32 degrees or colder.
Both can be harmful to outdoor plants, but typically a freeze is what will kill outdoor vegetation. Outdoor potted plants should be covered or brought inside.
When does the first frost usually occur?
In Toledo, our average first frost is Oct. 6. In 2023, we did not see frost until Oct. 23 and a week later, we saw the first snowfall of the season on Halloween.
Each year can vary. The earliest Ohio has ever seen frost was Aug. 29, 1982. The latest it's been on record was Nov. 3, 1897.
This year, the first frost in northwest Ohio is expected to happen after the average date of Oct. 6. The current WTOL 11 forecast for Oct. 6 has low temperatures expected at 49 degrees.
When is the first freeze?
As far as the first freeze, Ohio will typically see the first freeze on October 17th. We've seen a freeze as early as Sept. 14, 1975 and as late as Nov. 15, 1915.
What you need to know
If you have outdoor plants - or just an affinity for warm weather - you may want to know when the first frosts and freezes are expected.
Currently, frost and freeze-worthy lows are not expected in the WTOL 11 10-day forecast.
When meteorologists know that frost or a freeze is coming, a Frost Advisory, Freeze Watch or Freeze Warning will be issued.
A Frost Advisory is when the low temperature will be between 33 and 36 degrees with clear skies and calm winds.
A Freeze Watch is when there is a chance for freezing temperatures, 32 degrees or lower, within the next 24 to 36 hours.
A Freeze Warning is when freezing temperatures are expected.
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