January 29, 2003

Southern Florida Escapes the Freeze!

Summary

Frigid Arctic air engulfed much of the southeastern United States on January 24, 2003, but spared most of peninsular Florida.  Many farmers had already harvested their vegetable and citrus crops in anticipation of the freezing temperatures.  Fortunately for many, the average daily temperatures remained well above freezing, sparing most vegetable crops and citrus trees.  The lows were near freezing in many parts of southern Florida, but remained safely above the critical 28^oF (2.2^oC) temperature threshold for sustaining any damage to the citrus trees.  However, most of Northern Florida and the Panhandle region were adversely affected by the frigid temperatures.

Weather

The blast of Arctic air kept the average daily temperatures on January 24, 2003, across the Southeast in the grip of winter.  Northern Florida and the Panhandle region were hit by freezing temperatures, while Peninsular Florida remained unscathed.  The minimum temperatures remained near freezing over many parts of Southern Florida, but remained above the critical 28^oF (2.2^oC) temperature threshold necessary for inflicting any long-term damage to the citrus trees.  These near freezing low temperatures lingered in southern Florida through January 26th before the return of warmer conditions.  The resulting damage to crops was therefore largely confined to northern Florida and the Panhandle region. Click on the thumbnails images below to enlarge.

Images

For more information, contact Rao Achutuni
with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 690-0140.