Weather
First frost arrives three weeks early as cold front settles over the valley
Growers scramble to cover late tomatoes; forecasters expect a rebound to the mid-60s by the weekend.
Residents woke to frost on windshields and lawns this morning, the earliest first frost recorded in the valley since 1998.
The National Weather Service measured 30°F at the airport at 6:10 a.m., with colder pockets in the low-lying farm belt to the south.
Orchard owners reported spending the night running wind machines and sprinklers to protect late-season apples and pears.
'We had maybe two hours of warning,' said Elena Ruiz of Ruiz Family Farms. 'The tomatoes are done, but the apples should be fine.'
Forecasters say the cold front will move east by Thursday, with highs returning to the mid-60s over the weekend.
Gardeners are advised to cover tender plants tonight, when temperatures are expected to dip to 33°F.