OK, let me start by saying this entire weather informational note came from Anthony Peoples' Blog, weatherman (do they still call them that?) for WQAD. I thought it important enough for all area gardeners to put it here just in case you miss it other places:
SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Frost & Freeze Possible Sunday MorningMay 7th, 2010 by Anthony Peoples
SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Saturday, May 8, 2010, 7:06 a.m.
"Things are not looking good for area farmers and for people, like me, that put our crops, plants, and flowers out early this season.
After the warmest April on record in the Quad Cities, record or near record low temperatures are expected tonight and a frost and freeze is possible early Sunday morning. (The official record low in the Quad Cities is 32 degrees tonight.)
With high pressure building in overhead Saturday night, skies will clear out and temperatures will drop into the 20s and 30s.
A “Freeze Warning” is in effect from 3-8 a.m. Sunday for the following Iowa counties: Cedar, Clinton, Dubuque, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Muscatine, and Scott, and the Illinois counties of Carroll, Jo Daviess, Rock Island, and Whiteside.
Temperatures under the “Freeze Warning” could fall into the upper-20s Sunday morning.
To the east and south of those counties, a “Frost Advisory” is in effect for the Iowa counties of Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa, and the Illinois counties of Bureau, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, La Salle, McDonough, Mercer, and Warren. Temperatures under this advisory could drop to 30-35 degrees by Sunday morning.
To the east and south of those counties, a “Frost Advisory” is in effect for the Iowa counties of Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa, and the Illinois counties of Bureau, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, La Salle, McDonough, Mercer, and Warren. Temperatures under this advisory could drop to 30-35 degrees by Sunday morning.
The “Freeze Warning” and the “Frost Advisory” means that temperatures will be primed for frost to develop or for tender vegetation to freeze for several hours in the pre-dawn hours Sunday. Any plants not covered are susceptible to being damaged or killed.
However, there are two things that could work to our advantage and keep temperatures up a few degrees. First, and most importantly, the winds will have to subside to almost calm tonight. Also, some computer models are indicating some high cloudiness, which might work to keep temperatures from really bottoming out tonight.
I’ll continue to monitor the trends today and have an update later. However, it doesn’t look good. I would definitely cover whatever plants you can by sunset to help hold in some of the heat for the plants from today."
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Side Note:
A new little garden shop opened in Galesburg on Seminary Street almost across the street from Innkeepers Coffee Shop. It's called the Garden Station. We had only a short time to stop and browse but it has very healthy affordable annual plants, very friendly, and some unusual things.
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