If you live anywhere near the New York–Pennsylvania border, it’s time to stop what you’re doing and check your garden — right now. Despite it being June, a month when most people are breaking out the sunscreen, there’s a cold snap moving in tonight that could cause serious damage to your plants. According to the National Weather Service, a Frost Advisory is in place through 8:00 a.m. Monday, June 2, with temperatures expected to plunge into the low to mid-30s. And yes — that’s cold enough to kill off your flowers, vegetables, and young crops before the sun even rises.
Which Areas Are Affected?
This frost alert specifically targets regions that sit along or just below the New York–Pennsylvania state line. That includes:
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Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania
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Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties in New York
These are mostly rural and higher elevation areas — which makes them especially vulnerable to ground frost. If you’re located in a valley, a dip, or even a flat yard in one of these counties, you should assume your plants are at risk.
Why Is This Happening in June? Isn’t Frost Season Over?
Normally, yes — by early June, frost is rare and the growing season is in full swing. But this isn’t a normal pattern.
What’s causing this out-of-season chill is a high-pressure system drifting in from Canada. It brings clear skies and calm winds, which may sound harmless but actually create the perfect conditions for frost. Without clouds to trap the day’s warmth, temperatures at ground level plummet overnight. This process — called radiational cooling — can create frost even when the forecasted low hovers just above freezing.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Back in June 2015, a similar system wiped out young plants across much of the Northeast. The damage was widespread, particularly for early vegetable gardens and orchards.
What’s at Risk Tonight?
If you’ve spent the last few weekends planting, this forecast could be devastating. Some of the most vulnerable plants include:
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Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and squash
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Basil and other heat-loving herbs
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Newly planted flowers and annuals
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Blossoming fruit trees and seedlings
Even a light frost can kill tender plants, turning leaves brown and mushy within hours. And here’s the thing: you won’t even notice the damage until sunrise, when it’s too late to do anything about it.
How to Protect Your Plants (Even If You’re Reading This at Night)
Don’t panic — you still have time. Here are some quick but effective things you can do to reduce frost damage:
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Bring inside any potted plants or hanging baskets, especially those that are delicate.
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For what you can’t move, cover the plants with old sheets, lightweight blankets, or even cardboard boxes. Try to prop up the covers with sticks so the material doesn’t touch the leaves directly.
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Water your garden before sunset if you haven’t already. Moist soil traps more heat than dry soil and releases it overnight, offering a layer of natural insulation.
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Avoid using plastic covers directly on plants — it can trap moisture and actually make frost damage worse unless used properly.
What Happens After This Frost?
Thankfully, this isn’t a week-long freeze. Temperatures are expected to rise back into the 60s and even 70s later on Monday. But this one cold morning could still devastate your entire garden if you’re not careful.
And this might not be the only one. Meteorologists are monitoring conditions for more potential clear nights this week. If skies remain clear and winds stay light, there’s a chance of another frost later this week.
Bottom Line: Treat Tonight Like It’s a Late March Forecast
This is one of those rare moments where timing is everything. Don’t let the date on the calendar fool you — if you wait until morning, you could find your plants wilted and beyond saving. This is your window.
If you’ve been nurturing your garden since April, tonight is the night to put in a little extra effort to protect it. It only takes one cold night to lose an entire season’s worth of work — and this just might be that night.
