Frost Advisories Across Northeast; Pacific Storms West

An early-October cool down will sweep much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, driven by high pressure and a backdoor cold front that cuts daytime highs into the 50s–60s with clear skies, northeast/north winds and low humidity. Forecasts warn of patchy to widespread frost Wednesday night into Thursday, and local offices from central Pennsylvania and the Capital Region to Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and upstate New York have issued Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings and urged gardeners to protect sensitive plants as some sheltered pockets could briefly dip into the 20s–30s. The pattern should remain largely dry through the coming week with little precipitation expected until late next Tuesday or midweek, and temperatures are expected to moderate and warm back toward above-normal levels by the weekend for many areas. Out West, Pacific storms will impact the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, bringing rain and mountain snow into Montana, while Southern Colorado stays comparatively warm through midweek before cooling. Kansas is still forecast to run above-normal overall this autumn, though the state's first freeze is still likely within the next month.