ABC7 Demo: Visualizing frost formation
Ever wonder how frost forms on your lawn even when your home's thermometer says it's above freezing?
Ever wonder how frost forms on your lawn even when your home's thermometer says it's above freezing?
Ever wonder how frost forms on your lawn even when your home's thermometer says it's above freezing?
As some of the coldest air the Gulf Coast has experienced since January 2022 arrives on Friday night, it's possible some areas will wake up to frost on Saturday morning.
This also goes for areas where home thermometers and the temperature report on TV say an area is above freezing.
How's that possible?
Something important to know about the weather is that official temperature readings like what you see on ABC7 weathercasts, view on your phone or hear about from the National Weather Service are recorded at a height of about 5 feet above the ground.
This is important to know in a cold weather situation like Friday night because of how dense the cold air is.
The density of cold air means that it sinks. This allows temperatures to drop, and sometimes by a considerable amount from 5 feet above the ground where an official temperature readings are measured and the ground.
So, don't be surprised if, on Saturday morning if you wake up to frost even though your outdoor home thermometer saying it's above freezing.
Even though at the point your thermometer happens to be may very well be above freezing, because of the density of cold air, it could be quite a bit colder at ground level.
Learn more and watch the demonstration from ABC7 News at 6 in the video above.