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First frost could impact crops

USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the first widespread freeze of the season could impact corn and soybeans in the upper Midwest.

“We’ll have to watch this carefully as there is a lot of immature corn and immature soybeans across the upper Midwest that could get nipped and if temperatures drop low enough in to the hard freeze territory – upper 20s or lower – that could end the growing season certainly locally,” he says.

He says the high-pressure system centered over the Great Lakes region will build into Thursday and Friday and could lead to widespread frost in the upper Midwest.

But Rippey says the first frost typically occurs around this time of year.

“We’re looking at what would be a normal first freeze, so it’s not that unusual to see these cold air masses start to build their way down from western Canada and Alaska this time of year,” he says.

The National Weather Service says although the first fall freeze dates can vary, they typically range from mid-September to early-November.