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Will the Incoming Freeze Hurt My Spring Blooms?

Below-freezing temperatures are a concern for area fruit growers, but most cold-hardy plants should survive.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Below-freezing temperatures are forecast early Wednesday morning, so a Freeze Warning has been issued from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. Temperatures are cold enough to cause some concern with fruit growers whose trees are entering a critical stage in the bloom cycle.

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Freeze Warning for April 19, 2022

A Freeze Warning is issued when temperatures are expected to reach 32° or colder. If necessary, take action to protect your outdoor plants.

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What are Frost / Freeze Alerts?

If or when additional frost or freeze alerts are issued this spring, here's what you should do:

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What Your Should Do for a Frost / Freeze Alert

The latest spring freeze usually occurs on May 1. The last spring freeze occurred on April 28, 2022, a few days earlier than usual.

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Last Spring Freeze Benchmarks - Grand Rapids

Across Lower Michigan, the average date of the last spring freeze occurs between April 11 and May 31.

Wednesday morning's low temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 20s to low 30s. Even though location north of Grand Rapids will fall into the 20s the growing season hasn't progressed far enough to warrant any alerts yet.

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Low Temperature Forecast for April 19, 2023

Fruit growers get concerned when temperatures fall into the mid 20s; that's when up to 90% of the blooms could be damaged. Temperatures in the upper 20s would only result in about a 10% loss.

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Current Fruit Stages

As always, keep up to date with the latest forecast by watching our 13 On Your Side team of meteorologists.

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Chief Meteorologist George Lessens

George is a graduate of Penn State University working for 13 On Your Side for over 42 years. He is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), a twelve-time MAB® Weathercast Award Winner and two-time EMMY® Award Winner.

Contact me at: GeorgeLessens@13OnYourSide.com

Follow me on Twitter @glessens and Facebook GeorgeLessensWZZM

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