Duluth, Minn. – Gardeners in Duluth, Brainerd, and Grand Rapids should brace for a sharp drop in temperatures early Friday, with lows near 29°F expected to trigger widespread frost.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, a Frost Advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday for much of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Inland areas—including Cass, Itasca, and St. Louis counties—face the highest risk, while lakeshore zones in Cook and Lake Counties are excluded due to moderating temperatures from Lake Superior.
Communities across the Northland, including International Falls, Ely, Hibbing, and Aitkin, are likely to see frost formation overnight. In northwest Wisconsin, cities like Ashland, Washburn, and Hayward are also included in the advisory.
Cold-sensitive plants and early garden crops could be damaged or destroyed if not protected. Residents should bring potted plants indoors and cover ground vegetation with cloths or plastic sheeting before nightfall.
While late May frosts are not unheard of in the region, this chill follows a stretch of warmer days that may have prompted early planting.
The advisory will expire at 9 a.m. Friday, but additional cold-weather alerts could follow if temperatures remain below seasonal norms into the weekend.
