Last night, we got our first real frost of the fall season. It may feel a little early for the temperatures to be this cold already, but this actually lines up with annual patterns. Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan said we usually see our first killing frosts in October.
This first frost does bring a few concerns, however, as we are still seeing a dry signal in Iowa?s weather patterns. Hopefully, October will bring some timely rains to replenish the soil levels before it completely freezes over. Glisan said we want to see a good snowpack this winter, but we also need the weather to cooperate so we can get some moisture into the soil.
We are still a whole season out from winter yet, so it?s tough to predict what it will be like. Glisan provided a few guesses as to what we might see.
While we want to see those replenishing rains, especially with the low levels of the Mississippi River, we don?t want any wet weather to interfere with harvest. Glisan said it?s always tough to find a balance every year.
For more information, visit https://iowaagriculture.gov/climatology-bureau.
