E PA/NJ/DE Spring 2026 Obs/Discussion

[RedSky]

.30"

 

[Chief83]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CkuX5TEJE

This is a link about the spring freeze of a few weeks ago and the effect on the early leaves being frozen. My son, Geoff Cornish, with AccuWeather put the story together  after contacting some aborists for their input.

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Not only has a mid-May freeze happened before, there was one just three years ago:

 

[JTA66]

0.25" overnight, bumps me all the way up to 0.27" for the week, 55F.

[ChescoWx]

We picked up 0.44" here in East Nantmeal since last night, Cool and breezy today before we start a nice warming trend. Some lower valley spots may touch 90 by next Tuesday. Higher ridge locations are likely to remain in the mid to upper 80's. We will likely see a return to cooler temps toward the end of next week. Our next chance of rain looks to be toward mid-week.

[RedSky]

.50" blockbuster

 

[BBasile]

0.18" overnight.  0.63" for the month. 

[ChescoWx]

16 of our last 20 days have featured below average temperatures. Today will be another below average day before we start a strong warmup with temperatures by Tuesday approaching 90 degrees across especially the valley locations across the County. A cold front will cross the area later Wednesday with a chance of some showers. Following that front we should see temperatures fall back closer to normal levels by the end of next week.

[RedSky]

On 5/14/2026 at 9:46 AM, PhiEaglesfan712 said:

Not only has a mid-May freeze happened before, there was one just three years ago:

 

That was an anomalous heavy frost i hit 32F

There's a big difference between 32F and 25F low 

 

[mcwx]

Based on the 18z GFS, drought conditions are going to get worse

[ChescoWx]

We start our warmup today peaking with temperatures not far from 90 by Wednesday. A cold front crosses the area later Wednesday with rain chances increasing and we trend back to near normal temperatures by Thursday and below normal temperatures for the start of Memorial Day Weekend.

 

[The Iceman]

4 hours ago, ChescoWx said:

We start our warmup today peaking with temperatures not far from 90 by Wednesday. A cold front crosses the area later Wednesday with rain chances increasing and we trend back to near normal temperatures by Thursday and below normal temperatures for the start of Memorial Day Weekend.

 

Looks like temps will peak pretty well into the 90s for most if not all of us. Mt holly point and click has me at 95 Tuesday and 96 Wednesday. That would have to be near record breaking no? 

 

 

[Albedoman]

My friends: The freeze event several weeks ago was historical like I said several times since the event. Here is my proof in the facbook video below. Highland Orchards is near West Chester, PA.  The areas to the west and north were just as bad if not worse.  I was absolutley spot on when I said on how devastating this late freeze and the depth of the cold throughtout our area. Every vineyard harvest  in Lehigh County was totatly decimated for this year.

Whats next in my thoughts?  This years years corn and soybeans have been affected as well. Many farmers have not even plowed the fields yet as they are afraid of the current drought conditions. WE really need 3-5 inches of rain in the next two weeks. The base flows in the streams are down 50-75% right now.

I am waiting for the spigot to be turned on. When?  The spigot will not be turned on until we have at least two back to back storm events coming up from the TN valley rather than from the upper midwest.  I do not see that until the very end of the month- if we are really lucky. Lets hope some shortwaves start appearing on the models near Nashville TN and running up the Applachian Mts.

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1668857734450422

 

 

[Albedoman]

MY suet feeders are empy after the last two weeks- incredible.  I have eight of them. This is because when freezes hit in late April into May, they can severely damage:

• Serviceberries
• Mulberries
• Wild cherries
• Dogwood berries
• Early insect hatches
• Flowering fruit  trees and shrubs

That creates a temporary natural food shortage for many birds, especially:

• Baltimore orioles
• Catbirds
• Woodpeckers
• Bluebirds
• Wrens
• Chickadees
• Grackles
• Starlings

Suet suddenly becomes one of the highest-calorie foods available, so birds aggressively raid feeders even outside normal winter behavior.

You may also notice:

• Birds staying at feeders much longer
• Increased territorial fighting
• Species eating suet that normally ignore it in May
• Birds tearing through feeders in 1–2 days
• More activity early morning and before storms

A late freeze can also reduce caterpillars and soft-bodied insects that nesting birds desperately need for protein right now.

A few things you can do to help temporarily:

Best Foods Right Now

• Plain suet or insect suet
• Mealworms
• Peanut pieces
• Black oil sunflower
• Orange halves for orioles
• Jelly in small amounts

Avoid Overheating Problems

As temperatures rise in Pennsylvania:

• Use “no-melt” suet blends
• Keep suet in shade
• Replace spoiled suet quickly

Expect This to Improve

If weather stabilizes, natural food sources usually rebound within:

• 1–3 weeks for insects
• Several weeks for berry-producing shrubs

You may especially notice a rebound after warm rainy nights, when insect populations recover quickly.

Pennsylvania’s recent late spring freeze has caused significant damage to fruit trees, berry-producing plants, flowering shrubs, vineyards, and early insect populations across the state. Apples, peaches, cherries, blueberries, grapes, serviceberries, and other fruit crops suffered blossom and young fruit losses after temperatures dropped into the low 20s during critical growing periods. At the same time, many early insects and caterpillars — an important protein source for nesting birds — were also reduced by the prolonged cold weather.

As a result, many birds that normally rely on natural spring food sources such as berries, fruit, nectar, seeds, and insects are now aggressively turning to backyard feeders for survival. This is why suet feeders are being hit unusually hard this spring, even by species that may not normally rely heavily on suet during warmer weather. Suet provides a high-calorie, high-fat energy source that helps birds recover quickly during a period when natural foods are scarce or delayed. Increased nesting activity, colder nighttime temperatures, and the physical demands of breeding season are also causing birds to consume much larger amounts of food than normal. Many residents throughout Pennsylvania are reporting increased feeder traffic, longer feeding times, and more competition among birds as they adapt to these temporary environmental conditions.

While the media has covered the agricultural impacts of the freeze — including major losses to orchards and vineyards — far less attention has been given to the secondary wildlife impacts now becoming visible in neighborhoods and rural areas. Agricultural losses are easier to quantify through crop damage and financial impacts, while changes in bird behavior are more difficult to measure scientifically in real time. In many ways, the unusually heavy activity now being seen at backyard suet feeders may be one of the clearest visible indicators of the broader environmental stress caused by Pennsylvania’s late spring freeze. A lot of birders throughout the Mid-Atlantic have reported unusual feeder pressure after this freeze pattern.

[JTA66]

Only 8.75” on the year so far. We know how this will end — not with increasing and steady rains, but with flood watches and warnings.

Keep up the good posts, drought guy.