National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin have issued a frost advisory for Tuesday morning, with an office in Michigan also issuing a freeze warning, as temperatures plunge this week alongside the arrival of fall. Cooler air is moving into the region from Canada, causing the dip in temperatures. Freeze warnings and frost advisories are two cold weather-related alerts used by the NWS to notify residents of temperatures that might become cold enough to damage outdoor plants or hurt animals that might be caught outside.
These alerts are typically used at either the end or beginning of the growing season to alert farmers and gardeners that the weather could harm their crops. This is the first freeze warning issued by NWS Marquette this season, NWS meteorologist Ben Warren told Newsweek. The region typically sees its first freeze sometime in late September or early October, making the chilly weather this week a little early for normal conditions.
"Our normal [overnight] temperatures this time of year are typically in the 40s," Warren said. The first day of fall is Tuesday, September 22. A freeze warning, which is more severe than a frost advisory, is issued when temperatures are expected to dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time.
A frost advisory is issued when temperatures are cold enough that frost could occur. This might mean a frost advisory is issued even when temperatures are above freezing, as temperatures closer to the ground can be several degrees colder than air temperatures where thermometers are often positioned, meaning frost could form even when the thermometer reads a temperature above freezing. The freeze warning was issued by the NWS office in Marquette, Michigan.
It will go into effect at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning for Baraga, Iron, and Southern Houghton counties. Temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit are expected.
Impacted cities include Kenton, Iron River, Sidnaw, and L'Anse. In addition to taking steps to protect plants that could be susceptible to the chilly weather, the warning also urged people to take action to protect water pipes. "To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly," the warning said.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
