Southern Colorado saw a frost advisory along with a freeze warning, and hard freeze warning, on Thursday morning. All these three were in effect at the same time. Temperatures have taken on a bit of a winter feel in recent days. This is a clear indication that the growing season has officially come to an end. Moreover, this is a sign that the second set of freeze warnings for the year has already come and gone. Now, we are waiting for the really cold stuff in the upcoming winter season.
Many people on the internet have asked about what a Freeze Warning is. Also, why do we even need to warn of such a thing? We already know that the temperatures are forecast to drop below the freezing mark. However, there are several reasons for these warnings and advisories. Let’s find out what a freeze warning means and what it is geared toward.
What is a Freeze Warning?
A freeze warning is an official warning that is issued when the first freeze of the season is expected. In such cases, the temperature will drop to 32° or can go even lower for around 2 hours or longer.
A true freeze can be very fatal for vegetation. It can kill crops and can even end the growing season for many plants. However, hardy plants can survive even in the low 30s. Pipes work mostly well at this temperature.
What is Frost Advisory?
A frost advisory is issued by the National Weather Service. This organization issues this advisory when there is a chance of frost development and it is expected to last for 2 hours or even longer in an area. Frost, which is also known as “frozen dew”, can form on roofs, grass, trees, cars, etc. This happens when air temperatures are as high as 37°. This phenomenon depends on the wind, humidity, cloud cover, etc.
A frost can kill sensitive plants as well. But the growing season can continue even after a frost occurs. One can save their plants by covering the sensitive plants and bringing in the potted plants during a frost advisory
What is a hard freeze warning?
A hard freeze warning is usually issued when temperatures drop below 28°. This is expected to last for 2 hours or even longer. A hard freeze is the final warning issued at extreme situation. It is issued to make people aware that it is time to winterize their homes and harvest their gardens. Moreover, outdoor pipes or sprinkler systems can get damaged. This can happen if they are not protected or drained. The growing season ends at such extreme weather conditions temperatures.
What is the difference between a freeze advisory and a Hard freeze Warning?
When temperatures are forecasted to go as low as 32°F or even lower for a long period, the NWS issues a freeze warning. This is a temperature threshold that kills some types of commercial crops. Along with this some of the residential plants also face severe threats. However, NWS issues a hard freeze warning when temperatures are expected to fall below 28°F. This is expected to last for an extended period. It leads to killing most types of commercial crops and even poses a threat to residential plants.
A frost advisory means that there are areas of frost that are expected to occur. These even pose a threat to sensitive vegetation.
What is a Freeze Watch?
NWS issues the freeze watch. This is usually issued when there is a potential for significant and widespread freezing temperatures. These are usually expected within the next 24-36 hours. A freeze watch is issued usually in the autumn. It lasts till the end of the growing season and even in the spring at the start of the growing season. There are high chances that Freeze Warning Criteria may be met at longer ranges as well.
This is a clear indication that the growing season has officially come to an end. Moreover, this is a sign that the second set of freeze warnings for the year has already come and gone. Now, we are waiting for the really cold stuff in the upcoming winter season.
Conclusion
The recent incident of Freeze Warning has rekindled the interest in the internet. The netizens are continuously trying to know more about what and how the situation is and how to handle this.
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