While the calendar says we are entering mid-May, Old Man Winter doesn’t want to release it’s grip on the northeast where another around of chilly temperatures has prompted the National Weather Service to issue advisories related to frost and freeze conditions tonight and tomorrow morning.

Frost Advisories are up for portions of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Freeze Warnings are in effect for portions of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Surface high pressure centered over the central Great Lakes this afternoon will continue to drift east  of the eastern Great Lakes tonight and tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, the heart of the cold air will push into the base of the longwave troughing pattern overhead of New York State. The combination of the cold air, the surface high overhead, light winds, and clear skies will support ample radiational cooling tonight, supporting temperatures to plummet as low as the upper 20’s in some locations.  The coldest areas will see another hard freeze while adjacent areas will see a harmful frost by morning.

A Frost Advisory is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) during the growing season when temperatures are expected to drop to 33°F–36°F  on clear, calm nights. These conditions can cause frost to form, which may harm or kill sensitive, unprotected outdoor plants.

A more serious Freeze Warning is issued by the NWS when temperatures are forecast to drop to 32°F  or colder over a widespread area for an extended period, signaling the end of the growing season. It indicates that significant, damaging, and sometimes “killing” cold is expected, necessitating protection for plants and pipes. Gardens and crops that were planted earlier could be damaged or killed due to the expected cold in the Freeze Warning areas.