Frost advisories in effect for all three Maritime provinces

Frost advisories have been issued in all three Maritime provinces. (File)

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued frost advisories for all three Maritime provinces.

The advisories are valid and in effect for Wednesday overnight into early Thursday morning.

The weather agency cautions that a patchy frost could develop in frost-prone areas. Those areas are typically inland of the coast and include spots such as hilltops, valleys, and open fields.

Low temperatures could fall to near two degrees. That temperature is measured at a height of about five feet, but the chilliest nighttime air settles closer to the surface. An air temperature forecast of two degrees means the near-surface air could drop to freezing, creating the risk of frost development.

This is not expected to be a widespread hard frost for the region. That said, if you have temperature-sensitive plants that could be brought inside or covered up you may wish to do so. Varieties of plants that are at risk of damage from a patchy frost include tender annuals (peppers), perennials (hydrangeas), and tropical (palms) varieties.

Much of the region is already past the average date of last frost. By nature of that being an average, though, it does mean frost has occurred later than May 21 in previous years.

The risk of frost in the region will be reduced Thursday night by increasing cloudiness in the forecast. Low temperatures on the weekend and next week also look high enough to prevent a risk of frost as well.