An early bloom combined with a late freeze made for significant damage to two popular apple orchards in the Berkshires.

What You Need To Know

  • Temperatures fell back into the 20s on the morning of May 18

  • Windy Hill Farm and Bartlett Hill orchards received significant damage

  • The damage will likely have a big impact on the amount of apples available at these orchards later this year

With ideal radiational cooling conditions two weeks ago, a hard freeze occurred across much of Eastern New York and Western New England.

Temperatures went as low as the mid-20s across Berkshire County and appears to have brought severe damage to two popular orchards, Windy Hill Farm and Bartlett Hill Orchards.

Bartlett Hill Orchard co-owner Rick Bartlett believes at least 75% of the orchard has been damaged because of the freeze. That number could go up after the June drop happens in the next few weeks.

The orchard at Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington saw similar damage from the freeze.

With temperatures staying well above average into the start of June, this looks to be the last frost/freeze in the Berkshires until the late summer or early fall.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.