ARKANSAS, USA — Brrrr... A cold front is pushing south for the rest of the week, but another cold front will hit this weekend, bringing some of the coldest air of the season so far to the southern U.S. It should bring some more rain chances, but it may also bring a first light freeze to parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma.
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Temperatures next Tuesday and Wednesday morning will likely drop to the 30s across the northern half of Arkansas (see below). However, these temperatures are estimated a handful of feet off the ground. Ground-level temperatures are much cooler.
COOLER DOWN BELOW
The air just above the ground around the plants can be 4-5 degrees cooler than the air around your head and shoulders in a standing position. This cooler air helps create a frost or freeze, even if your thermometer isn't quite at freezing. This is especially true in the shade.
HOW MUCH WILL TEMPERATURES DROP?
A few 30s are possible Tuesday morning, becoming more commonplace by Wednesday morning across Arkansas and Oklahoma.
IS THIS EARLY OR LATE?
Depends on where you live... For much of NW Arkansas, this first freeze potential comes right on schedule, or just a couple days early.
The terrain of Arkansas with complex mountain ranges and rolling hills makes first freezes complicated. Different sides of town can have differing first freeze dates.
Much of the northern half of Arkansas, mainly north of the Arkansas River, gets its first freeze in October, while the southern half of the state gets its first freeze in November.
CLIMATE-BASED 1ST FREEZE DATES
WHAT LEVEL OF A FREEZE IS THIS?
A freeze takes place when surface temperatures reach 32 or lower. However there is a big difference on temperatures in the mid 20s contrasted to low 30s. Many plants can still survive in the low 30s, especially if it's temporary. Plus a blanket or covering can help them survive the chilly night. By the mid 20s, you start to get into a killing freeze. Many plants cannot survive those numbers.
The upcoming freeze potential is for a light freeze, not a hard/killing freeze.
Matt
-5NEWS Weather Team