As an experienced gardener and former Navy pilot who studied how to predict the weather, I’ve learned that a few easily observed atmospheric conditions and the lay of your land will tell you exactly when the first frost will hit your garden. With this information, you can plan to protect some plants and get others ready for the compost pile.
Clouds
If the sky is clear, the air is dry, and the temperature is falling, chances are frost will settle on your garden. But if the sky is cloudy, frost is less likely. This is because low, thick clouds act like a blanket. They prevent the heat that Earth radiates at night from escaping into the atmosphere.………….
Southern Slope
A gentle slope facing south receives solar radiation—heat and light—longer than other sites. And the radiation is more intense. That’s why a southern slope is the best location for a garden. Also, cold air drains down slopes (as described in a “Frost Pocket”), so gardens on top of slopes will get frost later than those at the bottom or on level spots.………..
Walls
Cold air rushing down a slope collects not only in hollows but also behind stone walls, fences, and rows of dense vegetation, such as hedges. Frost occurs sooner at the base of these barriers. To delay frost on plants growing beside a barrier, provide an opening in the wall or hedge through which the cold air can drain. ……….Dew Point
As the evening temperature falls, the air holds less and less moisture, until it condenses and dew forms. The temperature at which this happens is called the dew point. When dew forms, heat is released. That heat helps to keep the air temperature at or slightly below the dew point………….……….
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Article source: Rodale’s Organic Life
Image source: same as above