Full Breakdown
Early-Fall Cold Blast Prompts Frost Advisories in Seven Northern States
By Drooid · · How we work
Scope of the Advisories
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued frost advisories for portions of Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin for Wednesday morning. The alerts target low- to mid-30 °F temperatures that could damage tender outdoor vegetation. Specific thresholds include:
- Maine – southern Oxford County and the Interior Cumberland Highlands, with lows as low as 33 °F.
- Michigan (Upper Peninsula) – central and western Chippewa County and eastern and western Mackinac County, with lows down to 34 °F; additional counties in Upper Michigan could see temperatures as low as 32 °F.
- Minnesota – Koochiching, North Itasca, South Itasca, central and north St. Louis, northern Cook and Lake counties, with lows near 34 °F.
- Wisconsin – Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Florence and Forest counties (mid-30s) and Price, Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer and Washburn counties (as low as 34 °F).
- New Hampshire, New York and Vermont – northern counties and the St. Lawrence Valley, with temperatures in the lower-to-mid-30 °F range.
Meteorological Context and Forecast Outlook
The frost advisories follow Tuesday’s freeze warnings issued for Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. A freeze warning denotes temperatures expected to stay below 32 °F for an extended period, a more severe condition than a frost advisory. The Tuesday freeze warning in Michigan was the first of the season from the NWS Marquette office, according to meteorologist Ben Warren.
Official Statements & Responses
Greg Sova, a meteorologist with the NWS Marquette office, emphasized the short-term nature of the threat:
> “With regards to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we anticipate that the ongoing frost advisories will be the last ones issued this week as the morning low temperatures will get warmer each day for the rest of the week.” — Greg Sova
The agency also noted that isolated frost pockets could still develop on Thursday in elevated or low-lying areas, but widespread frost is not expected, making additional alerts unlikely.
What’s Next
The NWS expects daytime temperatures to rise later in the week, reducing the likelihood of further frost advisories. Residents in the affected counties are advised to protect tender plants by covering them or moving them indoors until temperatures stabilize above the frost threshold.
