I'm just down the road from you and still swimming most days! (I have left my heat pump on.) It looks like it's turning into Fall for real tonight so I may be done for the season :-( Will probably still close end of October or so, but since I don't use a cover, it's very easy to throw the robot in and add some chlorine if need be. There will be a couple of weeks of heavy leaf skimming coming up, though!
If you're using a winter mesh cover like a loop lock brand or the like I'd recommend cover the pool while all is still working below the cover. Maintain it until the water temp drops then winterize. I think in the next 2 weeks it'll have the chance to get down low enough.
It does matter. If you close with enough FC to make it through, you’re good. Holding off as late as possible is the best insurance. Have you done everything perfect or were you just lucky ? We will never know. But it worked for you so that’s awesome.
Which is what I am saying if you have no CC and you raise your chlorine level to near slam levels the water temperature doesn't matter. 20 years of doing this is not luck, science will tell you that algae needs light to grow and survive just google it. If you have no CC and you raise FC level and have a good cover there is no light. The coldest my water has ever been when I closed is low 70's no where near 60 degrees. If you are not taking care of the pool and have algae you will have a problem. I am assuming that people on this site are following the TFP methods. The water temperature is irrelevant just close at CC of 0 and high FC level. All of these posts come spring time about green pools could be avoided if you just follow this I been doing this 20 years in a row. Northeast weather is similar In NYC area,NJ,CT, PA. Closed at 80 degrees this year, I'll post pics of opening in spring. Seeing is believing.
