Weather expert: apple blossoms at risk during upcoming cold stretch
A brief warm-up is advancing apple bloom just as subfreezing temperatures approach. Growers should prepare for potential frost impacts through early next week.
For apple growers across the eastern Mid-Atlantic region, the coming days mark a critical final hurdle before spring temperatures stabilize above freezing. A brief stretch of warmer weather is accelerating bloom development—raising concerns about potential frost damage.
Warm-up accelerates bloom development
Drew Lerner, president of World Weather, Inc., warns that above-average early spring temperatures over the next couple of days will push apple trees further into bloom. While this growth is typical for the season, it leaves blossoms more vulnerable to sudden temperature drops.
Freeze risk peaks Sunday through Tuesday
Lerner forecasts overnight temperatures dipping below freezing, with some areas potentially reaching as low as 25°F. The highest risk window for crop damage is expected from Sunday evening through Tuesday morning.
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Key regions at highest risk
Central and Western Pennsylvania and southern New York — two major apple-producing areas — are of greatest concern heading into the weekend, Lerner said.
“Pennsylvania and southern New York are the two areas where right now, I’d be most worried about blossoms getting burned off by cold air and frost,” Lerner said, noting that temperatures in the mid-20s can significantly damage blooms.
He also flagged inland areas of south-central Michigan as potentially vulnerable, with the same Sunday-to-Tuesday window posing the greatest threat.
Outlook beyond the coming week
While growers in northern Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York should, like always, remain alert for a potential early May frost, Lerner is less concerned about long-term impacts to the apple crop if that event occurs. By that point, he said, apple blooms should be well past the most sensitive stage, reducing the risk to overall yields.
FGN resources
Below are a handful of resources from Fruit Growers News on handling extreme cold/frost events in orchards, vineyards and berry blocks:
Techniques for managing frost in vegetable and fruit crops
Tips offered to handle apple frost damage during harvest
Minimize frost damage in strawberries
How cold does it have to be to hurt the grapes with the next frost?