Greensboro, NC -- A cold front swept across the Triad Tuesday afternoon and in its wake will come a couple of nights with temperatures in the 30s. As much of a shock to the system this may be for many across the the Triad, this early-mid April cold snap is not all that rare.
Truth be told, the average last freeze across the Triad is anywhere between April 1st and April 11th. The average last freeze for the Piedmont Triad International Airport is April 11th, Asheboro's is April 5th and Burlington's is as early as April 1st.
While this seemingly late cold snap is actually right on point for when the Triad typically experiences it's last freeze the main concern is this years early start to the growing season. Due to the abnormally warm temperatures through March the growing season started roughly two weeks earlier than it normally does. This will cause for more delicate plants and vegetation to need to be protected Wednesday and Thursday night as temperatures drop into the mid and lower 30s.
The low temperature Wednesday morning will likely remain in the upper 30s for many locations, but Thursday morning will be the main concern. Low temperatures Thursday morning are expected to drop into the lower 30s in the immediate Triad with sub-freezing temperatures possible in rural areas. Overnight lows and daytime high temperatures will then begin a steady warming trend through the rest of the week and into the weekend.
If you think that this year has been a little different from 2011 you are correct. March 2012 was significantly warmer than March 2011 with an average high temperature of 62 degrees. The average high temperature in March 2012 was a balmy 70 degrees.
While March and the first part of April in 2011 were relatively cooler than 2012, the last freeze in 2011 occurred on April 6th. Whether temperatures at PTI officially drop below freezing or not, history shows that this mid-spring cold snap is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, the latest spring freeze ever recorded in history in the Triad was on May 8, 1989.
WFMY News 2