ST. LOUIS — Much of October was unseasonably warm in the St. Louis region, but a big change in the weather could be on the horizon. Next week could potentially see the first frost of the fall season.

Frost can occur when temperatures fall between 32 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit, just above freezing. Even if the air temperature is above freezing, frost can occur as long as surface temperatures cool enough for the moisture to freeze.

FOX 2 meteorologists are forecasting low temperatures around 38 degrees Wednesday and Thursday morning at Lambert International Airport. Areas outside the city could drop into the low to mid 30s. This means patchy frost is expected across much of the region and temperatures could even drop to freezing in some places.

According to the National Weather Service, the average first frost in St. Louis from 1991 to 2020 was around October 23rd. If the frost arrives on Wednesday, it will occur about a week earlier than average.

The closer temperatures get to the risk of frost and freezing (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit), the more likely it is that delicate plants, flowers and hardy crops will be damaged. To protect plants from the inevitable, experts recommend bringing potted plants indoors or investing in a frost-proof fabric cover or blanket for plants that will remain outdoors.

Keep in mind that the chance of frost may be slightly different in parts of the St. Louis region due to various environmental factors. For example, Chesterfield’s NWS frost and freeze tracking system is located near a river valley that typically gets colder than urbanized areas like the city of St. Louis, which could increase the risk of frost.

Other than Wednesday, there may not be many lingering frost opportunities over the next few weeks. Low temperatures are expected to be above 42 degrees Fahrenheit every other day through next weekend.

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