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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
944 AM EDT THU SEP 24 2026
..NWS BUFFALO FALL FROST AND FREEZE PROGRAM
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROST AND FREEZE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED
TO ALERT GARDENERS, GROWERS, AND SMALL FARMERS THAT ACTIONS MAY
BE NEEDED TO PROTECT TENDER VEGETATION FROM POTENTIALLY HARMFUL
COLD TEMPERATURES AND FROST.
THE “GROWING SEASON” IS DEFINED AS THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE AVERAGE
(MEDIAN) DATE OF THE LAST SPRING FREEZE AND THE AVERAGE DATE OF
THE FIRST FALL FREEZE. WHEN A FROST OR FREEZE IS EXPECTED DURING
THE “GROWING SEASON”, THE NWS WILL ISSUE A FROST ADVISORY OR
FREEZE WARNING RESPECTIVELY. ACTIONS IN THE SPRING CAN HELP
PROTECT YOUNG VEGETATION THAT IS JUST IN ITS EARLY STAGES, AND
ACTIONS IN THE FALL CAN POSSIBLY HELP PROLONG THE SEASON.
OUTSIDE OF THE GROWING SEASON, THE NWS WILL NOT ISSUE ANY FROST
OR FREEZE HEADLINES UNTIL THE RESUMPTION OF THE PROGRAM IN THE
SPRING. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO FOLLOW LOCAL FORECASTS OF
TEMPERATURES AND TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IF NEEDED.
FROST CAN OCCUR WHEN THE TEMPERATURES FALL TO THE MID 30S,
ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS. IT IS A LOCALIZED PHENOMENA AND FROST
OCCURRENCE CAN VARY GREATLY ACROSS A SMALL AREA. FROST BECOMES
MORE WIDESPREAD WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 32°F WITH A
FREEZE POSSIBLE. A HARD FREEZE IS POSSIBLE WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ≤
28°F. SOME PROTECTIVE MEASURES MAY INCLUDE: BRING PLANTS INSIDE
OR UNDER SOME SORT OF COVER. COVERING YOUR PLANTS WITH A LIGHT
WEIGHT FABRIC. WATER THE SOIL BEFORE AS WET SOILS RETAIN HEAT
BETTER. HEATERS, SMUDGE POTS OR WIND MACHINES TO MIX THE AIR SO
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE NEAR THE GROUND IS RAISED.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE CLIMATOLOGICALLY DEFINED MEDIAN DATES OF A
FIRST FALL FREEZE AND THE END DATE OF THE FROST/FREEZE PROGRAM FOR
THE FALL SEASON FOR ALL COUNTIES IN THE NWS BUFFALO SERVICE AREA:
OCTOBER 1: JEFFERSON, LEWIS, CATTARAUGUS, ALLEGANY
OCTOBER 11: CHAUTAUQUA, SOUTHERN ERIE, WYOMING, LIVINGSTON,
ONTARIO, OSWEGO
OCTOBER 21: NIAGARA, NORTHERN ERIE, ORLEANS, GENESEE, MONROE,
WAYNE, NORTHERN CAYUGA
A DETAILED HANDOUT OF THE FIRST FALL FREEZE CLIMATOLOGY CAN BE
FOUND AT:
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MEDIA/BUF/FROSTFREEZE.PDF
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