Frost/Freeze — Southern Erie, New York

2023-05-17 to 2023-05-18 · Southern Erie, New York

Wider weather episode

A hard freeze occurred over all of western and north central New York on May 18. The freezing temperatures damaged many apple orchards and grape vineyards across the region, especially across the Finger Lakes. Damage to crops and buds for the grape crop is estimated in some areas to be at least 50 percent. Many growers some that have been doing this nearly 40 years said it was the worst frost damage they have ever seen. A preliminary estimate for monetary damages caused by the hard freeze is 250-500K dollars. A sampling of lowest temperatures recorded included 24 degrees in Allegany, 25 degrees in Belmont, 26 degrees in Bethany, Calcium, Honeoye Falls, East Bloomfield, Hastings and Walworth, 27 degrees in Frewsburg, Copenhagen and York, 28 degrees in Lockport and Middleport along with 29 degrees in East Aurora and Albion.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1094656. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.