Warmer fall weather leading to delayed first freeze

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – For most of this fall it has been warmer than average temperatures in western Massachusetts.

It has gotten cooler recently with temperatures dropping down around freezing. According to Climate Central, fall warming is delaying the first freeze of the season in many locations across the country. They found that the first freeze arrived later in 85 percent of the 170 cities they analyzed.

On average the first freeze occurs 11 days later than it did in the early 1970s. In the Upper Midwest and the Northeast, the first freeze is now arriving at least two weeks later in 57 cities. In the Springfield area, the first freeze is occurring 19 days later than it did in 1970.

A later freeze can lead to worse fall allergies, and lingering pests and insects. “It also means the growing season is getting longer so for you it means things like mosquitoes take longer to buzz off. The allergies, the sniffling the sneezing that is lasting longer as well,” said Climate Central Meteorologist Shel Winkley.

Climate Central found that overall the fall season has warmed by 2.4 degrees on average across the United States since 1970.

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Adam Strzempko is a meteorologist who has been a part of the 22News team since 1996. Follow the 22News Storm Team on X @22NewsStormTeam and view his bio to see more of his work.

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