On
Friday, June 3, 1859, a cold front was approaching Ohio. Scattered rain showers
fell that night, ahead of the front. Behind the front was a dome of arctic air.
Skies cleared on Saturday the 4th, but the air was quite cool. It grew colder as
night of the 4th approached.
When the sun rose in the
clear, cold sky on Sunday June 5, it revealed a frosty landscape, which was
general throughout the state. As the frost disappeared under the sun's rays, the
earth took on a scorched appearance. The corn crop, which in a number of places
had reached a height of 10 inches, was frozen. Wheat was also killed in places.
Potatoes, other garden vegetables and fruit were all "cooked" in most
areas.
On one farm where corn was
only 4 - 5 inches tall, the family snipped off the partially frozen plants near
the ground and the plants eventually grew out again. In many areas, however, the
corn had to be replanted and there was a good crop.
The wheat crop did not
suffer quite so much damage as had first been thought, though there was some
loss. The frost and subsequent damage was not so severe in southern Ohio as it
was in central and northern areas.
Fruit, corn
and vegetables were seriously damaged by the severe frost of June 7, 1817,
especially in northern and central sections of the Buckeye State. This, of
course, followed the "year without a summer" (1816) when frosts even
in Ohio were seen every month.
On the morning of June 30,
1899, there were damaging frosts in eastern Allen County, Hardin County and
western Marion County and light frost in Hancock County. At Kenton, the observer
said he thought frost damage would total $10,000. Thousands of acres of corn and
potatoes were totally frozen in the hardest hit sections. Around McGuffy (Hardin
County), corn which was in tassels, was "lying flat on the ground",
according to the postmaster.
The layer of cold air which
resulted in this frost was quite shallow, as the observer at Kenton (Hardin
County) had a low temperature of 46 degrees, 6 feet above the ground. Also, the
wind in this area must have been fairly calm, but there was a rather strong wind
over the rest of the state.
Still another frosty June
morning was that of June 11, 1972. There was no general freeze but there was
widespread frost and killing frosts did occur in low areas. Cleveland's low of
31 degrees and Columbus' low of 30 degrees were both new records for the date.
Doylestown (Wayne County) registered a low of 26 degrees.
There was damage to corn
and bean crops in various counties in the state, especially in central and
northern areas. However, most damaged crops were expected to recover. Vegetable
plants in many gardens, however, were killed.
- END -
