Home / Weather / Weather Service Extends Frost and Freeze Warnings to Safeguard Growing Season
Weather Service Extends Frost and Freeze Warnings to Safeguard Growing Season
26 Oct
Summary
- Frost advisories and freeze warnings issued to protect crops during growing season
- Cutoff dates for alerts extended to account for climate change trends
- Growing season in Monroe County now spans May 1 to Oct 21
As of 2025-10-27T00:22:46+00:00, the National Weather Service in Buffalo has updated its frost and freeze alert program to better protect crops during the growing season. Frost advisories are issued when temperatures drop into the mid-30s, while freeze warnings are given when temperatures are expected to plummet well below freezing.
Previously, the cutoff date for these alerts in Monroe County was Oct 21, 10 days after the average first fall freeze. However, the Weather Service has now extended this to Oct 31, based on updated climate data from 1991-2020 showing the average first freeze now occurs on Oct 21.
This change aims to safeguard the growing season, which in Monroe County typically spans from May 1 to Oct 21. The alerts can help protect young plants in the spring and prolong the viability of fall crops. As the climate continues to evolve, the Weather Service is conducting a multi-year program to further refine these cutoff dates across different regions to best support local agriculture.
