E PA/NJ/DE Autumn 2025 Obs/Discussion

[JTA66]

I have a thing about not turning on the heat before Halloween. I caved these last two mornings.

[Hurricane Agnes]

On 10/21/2025 at 7:44 PM, Birds~69 said:

I know the weather has been boring but this subform has been quite dead. We better pick it up or a Mod will post the yearly question do we want to merge with the New York City subforum. Of course the answer is F-NO!

2 years ago, some creature (either a rabbit or groundhog) got under my privacy fence and snipped off every stem of both my asiatic lilies and tiger lilies.  Then they proceeded to eat my hosta like salad.      Last year, my hosta struggled a bit but returned, but almost nothing of my lilies came back.   I also had dwindling crocuses and snowdrops out front.

So this year I bought a pile of bulbs (including 3 different types of lilies) and perennials for fall planting, and have been prepping the patio for winter.  So have been busy!

This morning's 40F just after 7 am, was my coldest low since April 18.  I did make it up to 57 yesterday after a 43 low and it's currently 46 with dp 40.

Am watching TS Melissa's wild, yank-to-the-north track and waiting to see if a faux Miller B type thing actually happens to interact with it.  Right now, it looks like Melissa would absolutely devastate Jamaica if it rapidly intensifies before landfall as is progged.  As it is, it's growing in size. 

[Hurricane Agnes]

10 minutes ago, JTA66 said:

I have a thing about not turning on the heat before Halloween. I caved these last two mornings.

I actually still have my central air on "cool" (with fan constant on to keep the temps even) and it has been keeping it a comfortable 68 in here.  I know as soon as I put the heat on, then that will start the humidifier production for me (I have a bunch of them and that means tank fillings and filter changing, etc). I.e., the hot air will send my indoor humidity down below 30% and into the 20% or lower range.  

[ChescoWx]

Plenty of lows below freezing across most of the valley locations including Nottingham, Warwick Township, West Bradford, West Chester, Devault with the lowest the 29.1 degree reading at Warwick. At our higher ridge spots like here in East Nantmeal we got no lower than 38.9 degrees this morning. Temperatures during the day have been running 5 to 7 degrees below normal during the last couple of days and this chilly trend looks to continue through at least the next week taking us into the first week of November.  We stay dry till midweek when we will turn our attention to a possible coastal storm which may impact the region from Wednesday night into Friday.

[Birds~69]

60F/partly cloudy and actually not much of a breeze, surprising. 3:25pm

[Birds~69]

7am, 35F..sun just about to rise.

[MGorse]

Low of 36.5F at 7:30 AM. Now up to 49F. 

[ChescoWx]

This morning saw quite a few valley spots across the area fall below freezing. Warwick Township our typical cold spot fell to 29.4 degrees. Here just a few miles south but 250 feet higher in East Nantmeal we saw a low of 36.7 degrees this was our chilliest morning since last April 17th when we reached 34.2 degrees. Higher ridge locations have still not experienced a frost or freeze so far this autumn. Our cool autumnal pattern continues this week with the potential of another coastal storm by mid to late week. This storm has the potential to bring some widespread beneficial rains to the area. We will remain with temperatures below normal through next weekend.

[ChescoWx]

1 hour ago, MGorse said:

Low of 36.5F at 7:30 AM. Now up to 49F. 

Hi Mike, Hope all is well!
How does Mt.Holly determine the end of the growing season and when to stop issuing frost advisories for a county or zone? Here in Chester County it is tough as most spots below 550 feet have had multiple freezing days and frosts already this month. However, higher spots like around my area we have seen no frosts or freezes. Thanks! Paul

[MGorse]

44 minutes ago, ChescoWx said:

Hi Mike, Hope all is well!
How does Mt.Holly determine the end of the growing season and when to stop issuing frost advisories for a county or zone? Here in Chester County it is tough as most spots below 550 feet have had multiple freezing days and frosts already this month. However, higher spots like around my area we have seen no frosts or freezes. Thanks! Paul

Hi Paul. We look at all the temperature data we have access to and based on that, the zone/county has to have half or more coverage of temperatures at or below 32F to end the growing season. The growing season is also ended if it is two weeks beyond the median first Fall freeze date and no freeze has occurred. Little plant growth can be expected beyond that date.