03/13/06 Tim Creek`s Frost Forecast

This time of year fruit growers all over the Pacific Northwest keep a watchful eye on the weather forecast and the local frost reports. Meteorologist Tim Creek takes a look at what to expect over the coming weeks. CREEK: Well it does look like we are going to enter into the frost season with somewhat of a cool and unsettled weather pattern. And I would expect that is going to continue through the rest of March and maybe into the first part of April, where we are going to see relatively frequent storms moving into the area bringing cooler air and keeping conditions cooler than average. But we are behind where we were last year by a good amount. I don't think we are going to see anything that is going to be considered critical for this time of year. Probably a situation where temperatures are going to be about five degrees below average in terms of highs and lows. Still that keeps the low temperatures in the 20's, maybe mid and upper 20's much of the time and highs maybe mid and upper 40's. Of course as we get later in the month those temperatures will come up a bit. But the bottom line is I do expect a little bit more of a cooler and unsettled weather pattern into the first of April. I don't see signs of it yet, but I do anticipate that once we get towards the middle of April we will begin to see more of a high pressure situation developing over the region. Bottom line is that right now I do anticipate somewhat of a&let's say less eventful than normal frost season as we get into April and May. That's a look at the frost forecast and I'm Greg Martin with the Fruit Grower Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.