Despite the date on the calendar, some parts of the U.S. are facing the risk of frost and freeze this week.
The threat stretches from the Mississippi Valley through the Ohio River Valley and into the Mid Atlantic states. It is keeping a lot of farmers from getting in the fields for spring planting.
The cold snap should end tomorrow, and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that will be good news for late season crops.
“That could certainly threaten some earlier blooming fruit trees and then in the case of the planting progress, this may actually be a blessing in disguise that we’re seeing relatively slow planting progress, especially in the mid-west and mid-south because there’s not as much emerged that could be harmed by this late April freeze.”
Rippey says to be mindful of any temperature sensitive crops through the end of this week.
Related:
How Michigan’s ultra-early soybeans are fairing against frost
Like the U.S., Ontario’s planting is slower than normal