The Arctic air that invaded the Southeast early this week dropped temperatures to levels that broke daily temperature records in many parts of the region on Monday and Tuesday. This led to a first fall frost event that only happens about once every ten years or even less often in southern parts of the region. Most temperatures dipped well below 28 F, resulting in a hard freeze that killed off a lot of the crops and ended the growing season. The map below from the High Plains Regional Climate Center shows the lowest minimum temperatures observed so far this month. You can see how far into Florida the freezing temperatures reached. Every one of the 90 weather stations in Georgia, including the one on Jekyll Island along the southeast coast, dropped below 32 F on Tuesday morning. Even before the cold air arrived, a line of storms brought large hail to an area of southwestern Georgia where satsumas are grown, and about 10% of the crop was lost to hail damage from that line of storms even before the cold air arrived, and then the farmers had to deal with the freeze just a day later.
Farmers were busy ahead of the cold conditions preparing for the need to defoliate cotton, invert peanuts, and bring in tender vegetables before the frigid air arrived. Here are a few articles about the expected or observed impacts.
Georgia Citrus Grower Sustains Hail Damage
Cotton Growers Must Take Action Before Next Week’s Freeze Event
Freeze Event Dooms North Florida’s Remaining Fall Vegetable Crop
Early Freeze Event Ends Georgia’s Fall Vegetable Season
