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We're a month into fall already, and this Minnesota milestone of autumn is already nearly three weeks late in Rochester-- but it could happen this week.

While I'm sure I'll regret complaining about the above-average weather we've been having so far this fall in southeast Minnesota when we're covered in snow this winter, but I have to say I am looking forward to those cooler fall temperatures.

And along with them, THIS milestone of fall in Minnesota. One that's already around several weeks behind schedule. What is it? The first frost of the season! And according to several sources, our frost date is already nearly three weeks late here in Rochester.

The Old Farmers Almanac defines a frost date as the average date of the last light freeze in spring or the first light freeze in fall. And it also notes that, on average, we see the first frost of the season here in Minnesota's Med City around October 1st, a date calculated by analyzing data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information over the past 40 years.

Meanwhile, according to this Minnesota Interactive Average First Frost Date Map, it shows that much of southeast Minnesota is in Zone 6, where the first frost of the season usually happens between September 21 and 30th. We're already nearly a month past that end date this year.

Other parts of our area, including parts of the city of Rochester, appear to be in Zone 7, where the first frost usually occurs between October 1st and 7th. And even according to those later dates, we're still several weeks overdue for our first frost this fall.

But 'ol Jack Fost COULD make an appearance in our neck of the woods this week. The Weatherology Weather-Eye forecast for Rochester says low temperatures Thursday will be near 32, with Friday's low temp near 31. I'm hoping we DO get some frost-- to take care of those pesky boxelder bugs that have been so prevalent in Minnesota this fall. A frost should also help those fall allergies I've been struggling with this year!

Even though Jack Frost has been absent so far, Mother Nature is starting to show off some of those peak fall colors here in Minnesota. Keep scrolling to check out some ways you can take them in this year-- with or without a frost!

Listen to Curt St. John in the Morning
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