EXECUTIVE ORDER EXTENDED AGAIN

Please see the attached Executive Order 10-283, regarding the extension of the declared State of Emergency due to continued freezing temperatures. This declaration will ensure that timely precautions are taken to protect Florida’s agricultural crops.


If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Governor Crist’s press office at (850) 488-5394.

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 10-283

(Emergency Management – Freezing Temperatures)

On December 10, 2010, I issued Executive Order 10-262 declaring a state of emergency due to the threat that freezing temperatures posed to much of the State of Florida. Freezing weather continued over much of the state and thus on December 16, 2010, I issued Executive Order 10-275 extending the state of emergency through and including December 31, 2010. As the danger posed by freezing temperatures continues in Florida, I am issuing this Executive Order to extend for an additional seven days a state of emergency to ensure timely precautions are taken to protect Florida’s agricultural interests.

As Governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency. Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by article IV, section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the State Emergency Management Act, part I, chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, I promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1. Because of the foregoing conditions, I find that the continuation of the activities needed to harvest crops and transport them to processing plants without delay is of critical importance to the state’s farming community and economy.

Section 2. I extend Executive Order 10-262 for seven days through January 7, 2011.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 29th day of December 2010.

Signed:

CHARLIE CRIST

ATTEST:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Tuesday, 12/28/10 Freeze Update

Rev. 10:30am

Pierson and Volusia County reported the coldest night of the season. A FAWN recording of 23degrees. Ice in fruit, cut foliage covered in ice.

David Griffis, UF IFAS

Low’s reaching 25 to 27 degrees, most fields ran water. Moderate frost but very little to no damage

Wauchula State Farmers' Market

Strawberries fared well, no wind so sprinklers did their job. Only damage reported where they experienced a few sporadic pump failures.

Ted Campbell, president FSGA

Temperatures in the citrus growing areas of the Indian River area dropped below freezing after 1:00 PM.  Further cooling followed, with some areas reporting temperatures below 28 degrees for 1-2 hours.  Lots of ground frost again.  Shouldn’t have any damage, not with durations below 28 for only a couple of hrs

Tim Gaver, UF/IFAS/St. Lucie County

This morning, Melbourne set a record low temperature, National Weather Service officials report. Today’s low of 28 degrees broke the record low of 32, which was set in 1972.

The Immokalee area was below freezing from 11:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. with a low of 25 degrees. It is solid white everywhere and ice is still forming.  What crops that made it through the last freeze probably will not make it through this one. I have not seen it this white for this long in a very long time.

Jerry Hubbart, Immokalee Farmers Market

Homestead/Florida City temperatures dropped to low 30’s (30°- 32°) for 6-8 hrs with no wind. There will be damage to all crops that did not use overhead irrigation.

It is too soon to determine overall crop damage. 8:00 a.m. overhead irrigation is in use in most all of the fields

Paul Cardwell, State farmers Market

The coldest temperatures as of 4 am EST this morning were over northeast Palm Beach County with readings around 30 degrees. Temperatures across the remainder of the areas were in the lower to mid 30s with freezing temperatures to occur in the next few hours prior to sunrise.

FL City State Farmers’ Market

The mercury at a blueberries and strawberries farm dropped to about 17 degrees overnight and stayed below freezing for several hours. said he saw some of the coldest temperatures so far this winter. Turned sprinklers on at 7:30 p.m. Monday to protect his crops, what it hurts now was any new blossoms. Won't know the damage to his strawberries for three to five days, blueberries won't be affected because they won't blossom for another couple months.

George Casey, grower small fruits southwest of Brooksville

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

May this holiday season be a happy and festive one for you and your family.

Freeze Warning in effect for Northeast Florida Tonight

Hamilton-Suwannee-Columbia-Baker-Union-Bradford-Gilchrist-Alachua- including the cities of Jasper,Live Oak,Lake City, Macclenny, Lake Butler, Starke, Trenton, Gainesville 2:13 pm est. Mon. Dec. 20, 2010.

Freeze Warning in effect from 2 am to 9 am est. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a Freeze Warning...which is in effect from 2 am to 9 am est. Tuesday.

Tonight lows around 30 degrees are expected once again with sub-freezing temperatures lasting for 5 to 7 hours. In addition areas of frost will develop. Precautionary/preparedness actions a freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or expected for at least 2 hours.

Appropriate action should be taken to ensure tender vegetation, outdoor pets, and exposed water pipes have adequate protection from the cold temperatures. Young children, the elderly and the homeless are especially vulnerable to the cold. Take measures to protect them.

Extension of Executive Order

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has requested and received an extension of the Governor’s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in order to help farmers respond to this week’s cold snap. The extension will continue the temporary suspension of weight restriction for trucks until December 31.

Bronson originally requested the Emergency Order on December 10 just prior to the freeze so farmers could harvest as much of their crops as possible and get them out of harm’s way. It was set to expire on the 17th, however, Bronson says the agriculture industry is now in salvage mode and needs to continue harvesting and transporting crops to processing and retail facilities before they rot.


Bronson has alerted organizations representing the state’s agricultural producers and trucking interests of the Governor’s action so they can load and transport crops in accordance with the relaxed highway restrictions. Florida’s growers produce nearly all the nation’s domestically produced fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter.

For information about the weight, height, length and width restrictions for vehicles transporting crops on Florida’s highways, and information about DOT Road Use Permit Letters, Visit:

www.fdotmaint.com/PermitNew/home.asp

Extension of Executive Order

Anticipated Low's For Tonight

12/15/10 Freeze Report

Early this morning and overnight, several locations across Florida, saw all-time record lows. Jacksonville broke a 50-year record low Tuesday morning, when the mercury dropped to 21 degrees, breaking the old record of 25 set in 1962. Orlando dipped to a frigid 31 degrees, breaking its record low of 33 set in 1968.

The cold snap didn't end there, as it extended its mitts as far south as Miami, where the mercury has fallen to a bone-chilling 34 degrees.

A long withstanding record of 35 degrees has been broken, which was set 66 years ago in 1944.

Following is a freeze update as it affected Florida’s agricultural community.

Temps around Tampa Bay dropped below freezing early Wednesday and strawberry farmers reported signs of crop damage. The owners are more worried about damage from Tuesday's cold temperatures, when the wind was stronger, inhibiting the ice from forming its protective cover on the strawberries. This week's freezing temperatures halted the ripening of berries and production is down about 60 percent. In a normal year, Fancy Farm produces a half-million flats of berries. One flat contains eight 1-pound containers. It will be a couple days before they can determine the losses at this 210-acre operation.


Carl Grooms, Fancy Farms

Overall, Florida’s growers fared much worse last night than Monday night. Coupled with last week’s freeze, last night’s colder temperatures left many growers in South Florida with significant damage. Lows in Belle Glade were reported as low as 25. Helicopters were sent up around 9 to 10 p.m. to fly over corn crops, but they were called down not long afterward. Much of the more mature sweet corn was lost, although younger plants may have fared better in some areas. Leafy greens were icy, and yield will be affected. Tomatoes and peppers in Southwest Florida were left with significant damage, although tomato growers will be assessing the full extent of the loss in the coming days. The lack of wind helped strawberry growers get good freeze-protection coverage with irrigation, although temperatures as low as 21 will affect the bloom, producing gaps in volume in the coming weeks.

Lisa Lochridge, FFVA

Temperatures across the west-central Florida area remained at or below freezing for most of Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. The overnight low at the Plant City State Farmers’ Market was 28 degrees. A vast majority of the local growers used spray water irrigation to provide a thin coat of ice to the local strawberry plants to seal out the harsher temperatures. As of 8:00 AM, many of the farms were still running their water pumps and temperatures were just above freezing. Reports from local farmers indicated they were optimistic their crops escaped any real damage, but said it would take more time to assess all their crops. Calls to local growers went unanswered, but a report later in the day after they have had an opportunity to review their crops should be forthcoming.

Michael C. Tucker, Plant City State Farmers Market

Putnam County/St Johns County Area: Cabbage looks pretty good. Some of the mixed greens were a little wilted down. The freeze could have hurt the younger cabbage transplants and mixed greens, it’s still too early to tell. Local growers will be assessing damages thru the rest of the week. Temperatures dipped to a low of 22 degrees last night in the East Palatka area, with 10 to 12 hours of freezing temperatures.

Terry Driggers, Palatka State Farmers' Market

Early estimates have tomatoes and vegetables suffering significant damage from a second night of freezing weather that struck south Florida growing regions. The region’s tomatoes suffered extensive damage after subfreezing temperatures struck the region during the early morning hours of Dec. 15. “We have had some pretty significant damage, it’s not quite as bad as last year I would say, but a lot of the older stuff was frozen out. Some of the younger tomatoes, growers were able to protect with irrigation. Most of the tomatoes within 10 days of harvest are pretty much frozen.” Growers were able to save some of the very young plants where they were able to create a little microclimate protecting the plants. Immokalee-area tomatoes generally begin harvesting in late November and ramp up in volume in December as central Florida production typically finish by Christmas.

Last night was much colder than the previous night with temps below freezing for 6 hours or more in many places. We had significant damage to vegetables around SW Florida with a number of tomato, pepper, eggplant, squash and other vegetable fields killed or severely frozen back. Not as bad as last year's freeze (in most cases - although some growers were hit just as hard) as in a number of fields the plants had only had the tops frozen but plants should survive and produce a crop depending on weather over the next few weeks. Survival in younger plants seemed to be higher than in more mature plants approaching harvest.

Damage was higher in Glades, Hendry and areas east of Immokalee, less west and south of Immokalee and in the Naples area but all areas saw significant damage to vegetable crops.

Corn and beans hit very hard in SW Florida and around Belle Glade. Some slight damage to citrus reported but citrus seems to have done pretty well. Sugar cane was injured and will suffer some yield reduction and some loss of plant cane. We will have a better idea in a few days.

Unfortunately many smaller/medium size growers are going to be hurt badly as this is the 3rd year in a row for major losses to freezes and some have no credit left and owe millions.

Gene McAvoy, IFAS, Hendry County, LaBelle

Pioneer (corn/green beans) reported that Belle Glade is a total loss, devastated. Homestead area has been compromised “big time”, they just don’t know how bad yet. No good assessment until the crops start thawing out and they can see if they get re-growth. Some numbers/percentages on the Homestead damage by Friday or Saturday. The thought was that it was so cold that the choppers probably didn’t do a whole lot of good.

JD Poole, Pioneer

Immokalee area the temps were below freezing by 9:30 last night and stayed that way until about 8:00 this morning with a low of 25. I feel confident that damage will be significant.

Jerry Hubbart, Immokalee State Farmers’ Market

Watercress volume is really light now because of freeze and will be for the next several weeks. Their volume has been cut in half due to freeze. Last night they were in the low-mid 20’s at the farm. Rain coming will both help and hurt – some of their crops need the rain others will suffer more damage from the rain.

Andy Brown, B&W Growers

Homestead/Florida City temperatures in some areas dropped to the high 20’s (26°- 32°) with 3-4 mph winds. There will be frost damage to beans, squash and zucchini but it is too soon to determine at this time. Overhead irrigation was used early this morning in most fields and can still in use at 8:30 a.m.

Paul Cardwell, FL City State Farmers Market


CITRUS

We’re going to have spotty citrus damage. Though temps stayed around the same for the second night, we are cutting more ice in fruit. Grower observations are that we have ice in Valencias down south and in other varieties in central FL. Citrus is in the most danger when temperatures stay below 28 degrees at night for more than four hours.

Shannon Shepp, Division of Fruit & Veg.

The citrus trees weren’t damaged but the insides of the fruit resemble a Slurpee so they won’t be fresh market, instead they will be used for juice.

Steve Crump, Vo-Lasalle Farms, Volusia County

Uncle Matt's production team worked overnight to protect over 1,000 acres of organic citrus crops. To minimize the freeze's damaging effects, theproduction team ran micro-irrigation sprinklers mid way through the night and early morning. Initial reports indicate that freezing temperatures caused some damage to the fruit. "Temperatures were below freezing and got as low as 24 degrees, but the duration was not below 28 degrees for any period long enough to cause substantial damage; however, we did experience some damage in low-lying cold areas.”

Matt McLean, Uncle Matt's Organic

Indian River Citrus growers are going to have to wait and see about the consequences of long durations of freezing temperatures on Tuesday night. Temps dropped to 28 degrees before midnight and fluctuated several degrees below and just above the 28 degree mark for the remainder of the night. Growers expect some damage to thin-skinned citrus varieties.

Tim Gaver, St Lucie County IFAS

Tropical Fish Industry

More losses than expected just a few days into the event.

Dead fish are already floating to the top. This is very unusual because typically fish don’t float until after the first day of warming temps.

Farmers are still doing everything they can to prevent losses but this adds to the production costs.

Farms framing and covering ponds that would normally stay open. Typical cost is approx. $3,000/pond.

Farmers are medicating fish to try and prevent disease caused by the stress of the freeze.

Damage assessment should be available on Friday

Water temps in Polk County are at 48 degrees…two degrees below critical threshold.

Marty Tanner, President of Tropical Fish Association


Strawberry Industry

I visited quite a few farms thus morning and found growers generally optimistic that damage to strawberries was isolated. Monday night was windy, so water coverage was inconsistent in some spots farthest from the sprinkler heads. Last night was calm, so most had effective irrigation which actually required less pressure to attain proper coverage. Temperatures did not fall as low as predicted this morning, but farms still were generally in mid-20's. Those using cloth covers had a real battle deploying in the wind on Monday, so there was definitely bloom abrasion from the covers. Those using tailwater ponds experienced some sprinkler head freeze since that water is colder than groundwater. Our greatest problem is the diminished harvest volume due to slowing maturity during these cold spells. The missed economic opportunity for our farms cannot be recovered. Also the cost of harvest is extremely high because it takes just as many workers to walk every row and pick low volume as it would to harvest normal quantities. We expect one more night of freeze, but so far minimal damage to plants but considerable damage to revenues.

Ted Campbell, FSGA

Temperatures Around the State

Click on the map below to enlarge the image.

Another Night of Freezing Temperatures

Florida saw subfreezing temperatures this morning, with mid-20s recorded in the central Everglades and Miami reporting low 30s.

A Live Tracking Station in Moore Haven, Fla., directly west of Lake Okeechobee reported a low of 26 degrees.

Temperatures won't get much of a chance to rebound today as the arctic air becomes entrenched across the Eastern U.S. After sunset tonight, clear skies and dry arctic air will allow temperatures a chance to plummet once again. Lows across the Southeast and interior Deep South will drop into the teens, with 20s found closer to the Gulf of Mexico and northern Florida. Extreme northern Florida could dip into the teens.

Once again, subfreezing temperatures will be found deep into the Florida Peninsula interior, with coastal Florida locations seeing lows in the low to middle 30s. Even Miami will be near freezing, with the western suburbs dropping below freezing. A second night of Hard Freeze Warnings are in effect tonight across much of interior Florida.

12/14/2010 Freeze Report

Following are the latest updates from our field contacts regarding the effects of last night’s freeze.


Last night SW FL had quite a bit of damage - corn and beans that survived last week were wiped out last night - row covers and irrigating were less effective due to the wind - many farmers are reporting freezing back the top 6 -8 inches of tomatoes, pepper, eggplants in many places - damage is variable with some older stuff hit harder than some younger plantings - less damage as you go south. A good amount of wind damage to crops yesterday. Citrus - ok - some damage to cane with some frozen cane reported, overall not as bad as last year but definitely more damage than last week. Pastures are brown and unlikely to come back quickly due to cold and drought - meaning cattlemen will be spending a lot of money on feed this season. Tonight may be a problem.

Gene McAvoy, Hendry & Regional IFAS

Volusia County, 26 in Pierson, preliminary reports indicate citrus made it through without major damage. Cut foliage has been frost protected. Future yields will be reduced for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day crop. David Griffis, County Extension Director St. Lucie County overnight temps, according to NOAA, Low 25 – High 30 between midnight and 7:00 A.M Preliminary report on citrus is okay. A tomato supplier is checking on damage and will let us know what they find. Damage to peppers is being assessed and will be reported later. Nora Cunningham, Ft. Pierce State Farmers' Market Citrus growers in the Indian River area reported temperatures at the freezing mark shortly after midnight. Temperatures very gradually declined to a minimum of 26-27 degrees in most areas near sunrise, with durations below 28 degrees of 2 hours or less.

Tim Gaver, IFAS Ext. Agent

Growers are still assessing damages. It is too early to tell at this point the extent of damage. 10 to 12 hours of freezing temperatures. Another hard freeze expected tonight. The Palatka Market received some seed potato trucks at market scale yesterday. A few growers are now receiving seed potatoes for planting, the seed will be stored in barns with heaters to avoid freezing. Planting will resume when the weather warms up.

Vicki Brown, Palatka State Farmers' Market

It is a bit early to access the damage to the cut-foliage crop. We had 24 degrees about everywhere last night with several colder pockets. With the 24 degrees and the 10 mph sustained winds, there was excessive ice formed on the crops. With this much ice formed there will be considerable damage to the young crop. The forecast calls for similar temperatures tonight, although with milder winds. It will take about a week to really get a good handle on the percentage foliage crop that has damage.

J. R. Newbold, Forest Groves, Inc. Putnam County

It appears the low temp in Immokalee was around 27 degrees and below freezing for over 4 hours. The crops were just beginning to show the effects of the last cold snap so total damages may not show up for several days. I will send pictures as time permits. Jerry Hubbart, Immokalee State Farmers Market Homestead/Florida City temperatures dropped to the low 30’s with 10-15mph winds. There will be wind damage and loss of bloom but it is too soon to determine at this time. Overhead irrigation was used early this morning in many fields. Overall, crops faired well, with the wind blowing there was no frost.

Paul Cardwell, FL City State Farmers’ Market

There may be moderate damage to the small acreage of carrots planted in the area, but severity may not be known until first of the year. Older carrots may have damage to the tops, which can make the tops weak and more difficult to harvest. Younger carrots could sustain total loss. The temperature has been below freezing since 8:00 p.m. Monday, with a recorded low of 20.8 degrees F. in White Springs near the Suwannee Valley State Farmers’ Market

Edye Buchanan, Suwannee Valley State Farmers’ Market

Strawberry farmers turned on their water around midnight and off around 7 AM this morning. It is too early to find out if there was any loss of crops. The weather got down in the 20’s in some locations. It got down to 30 degrees here on our market. We did not have as much wind as the night before last. Carol Ryan, Plant City State Farmers Market Local lows for Hardee County and the surrounding areas were 24 to 26 degrees with a possible wind chill of 5 degrees. There were scattered reports of ice in the oranges. The strawberry growers report a decent ice coverage in the fields despite the winds. It is predicted that tonight will be colder with less wind.

Diana Durrance, Wauchula State Farmers’ Market

Citrus industry as a whole came through last night in pretty good shape. There were some mid-20s registered but durations were not long enough to reflect much damage to fruit. Scattered reports from growers who cut slush ice but nothing material. This was consistent through all of our growing regions and overall we were very fortunate. We do expect some mid-20s again but with no wind this should be a perfect night for irrigation.

Michael W. Sparks, Citrus Mutual

The aquaculture sector in most danger is tropical fish. Florida tropical fish sales in 2007 (latest available) $32,192,000, ½ of that, almost $17,000,000 comes out of Hillsborough County, followed by approximately $6,000,000 in sales from Polk County. • Marginal/minimal losses so far. • Fish sink to bottom when dead so assessment difficult • Cover ponds with plastic and flood with warmer water • Wind is a problem breaching plastic coverings eliminating solar warming • Open ponds will suffer severe losses • Farmers are doing everything they can to prevent losses • Polk County is currently the coldest area • Farmers are just recovering from serious losses from freeze event in 2010 • More accurate damage assessment by end of week • Farmers hopeful because of expected end of week warmer temperatures.

Martin May, Div. of Seafood

Temperatures Around the State

Click on the map below to enlarge the image.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK UPDATE

Following is a hazardous weather update from the various National Weather Service (NWS)stations around our state.

NWS JACKSONVILLE FL

NORTHEAST FLORIDA

.HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS TONIGHT......WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS TONIGHT FOR WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 10 TO 15 DEGREES...ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO PLUNGE INTO THE AREA ON STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CLIMB OUT OF THE 40S TODAY. THESE COLD TEMPERATURES...COMBINED WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 35 MPH AT TIMES...WILL KEEP WIND CHILL READINGS FROM RISING OUT OF THE 30S. THE DRY AIRMASS AND STRONG WINDS WILL BRING DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA.

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
...WIDESPREAD HARD FREEZE POSSIBLE AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT WITH NEAR RECORD LOWS IN THE UPPER TEENS AND 20S...

NWS MELBOURNE FL
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

DAMAGING FREEZE TONIGHT....EXCESSIVE COLD IMPACT...WIND CHILL FROM VERY COLD AIR COMBINED WITH OVERNIGHT WINDS NEAR TO ABOVE 10 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE TEENS OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL FLORIDA TONIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO FALL INTO THE MID 20S OVER MOST OF THE AREA EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. READINGS AS LOW AS THE LOWER 20S ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF THE I-4 CORRIDOR OUTSIDE OF THE URBAN AREAS WITH MID 20S SOUTH OF INTERSTATE FOUR TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE MAINLAND AREAS OF THE TREASURE COAST.

TUESDAY THRU WEDNESDAY
THE OUTBREAK OF VERY COLD AIR WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING AS TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING ARE EXPECTED OVER A RATHER LARGE AREA.

NWS TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

...EXCESSIVE COLD IMPACT TONIGHT...VERY COLD AIR WILL SETTLE OVER THE REGION TONIGHT WITH A HARD FREEZE EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE REGION. DANGEROUS WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 10 AND 20 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED BY TUESDAY MORNING.

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
...EXCESSIVE COLD IMPACT...ANOTHER HARD FREEZE IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS. THE LIGHT WINDS SHOULD PRECLUDE ANY WIND CHILL PROBLEMS.

NWS MIAMI FL
SOUTH FLORIDA

...POWERFUL ARCTIC COLD FRONT TO BRING DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OVERNIGHT......FREEZING TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE AREA TUESDAY MORNING...TEMPERATURES: AS A COLD AIR MASS SPREADS ACROSS THE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT, AND WINDS ARE SLOW TO SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT, WIND CHILL VALUES ARE FORECAST TO FALL BELOW 35 DEGREES DURING THE MID EVENING HOURS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH FLORIDA. MINIMUM WIND CHILL VALUES ARE FORECAST TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE 15 TO 25 DEGREE RANGE ACROSS SOUTHERN FLORIDA OVERNIGHT WITH THE COLDEST READINGS IN INLAND LOCATIONS. A HARD FREEZE IS LIKELY ACROSS GLADES, HENDRY, AND INLAND PALM BEACH COUNTIES WITH A FREEZE LIKELY ELSEWHERE.

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE FOR MOST OF INTERIOR MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA WEDNESDAY MORNING AGAIN. THEREFORE A FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL QUICKLY BOUNCE BACK TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS TOWARDS THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK.

Bronson Announces Trucking Restrictions Lifted To Mitigate Freeze Damage To Crops.

TALLAHASSEE – Commissioner Bronson requested that Governor Charlie Crist declare a state of emergency and issue an Executive Order directing the state Department of Transportation to relax the weight, height, length and width restrictions for commercial vehicles transporting vulnerable crops to processing sites. Governor Crist signed an Executive Order , which took in effect December 10, 2010, and remains in effect for 7 days.

"We are anticipating some severe temperatures early next week and this action will enable our farmers to move as much product as possible before weather damage occurs,” Bronson said.

“Hopefully, this will help our agriculture community lessen their losses."




GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 10-262

To read please click on the title heading above, regarding the declaration of a State of Emergency due to the threat of severe weather and forecasting of freezing temperatures as far south as Lake Okeechobee. This declaration will ensure that timely precautions are taken to protect Florida’s agricultural crops.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Governor Crist’s press office at (850) 488-5394.

Why So Cold? Blame the Greenland Block

The Greenland Block is a very strong area of high pressure located over the country of Greenland.

The block does what you may think it does - it creates an atmospheric traffic jam.

Air currents want to move west to east (in the northern hemisphere) but when the Greenland Block is in place it is has to navigate around the block. So air currents either flow up and around the block or dig south.

In the graphic above, the block is designated by a ridge of high pressure with the jet stream buckling northward up and around the high pressure area.

On either side of the ridge, the jet stream buckles southward creating two troughs - one located over the central and eastern United States and another over western and central Europe.

As the trough digs south, arctic air is no longer locked in the...well...arctic. It is free to spill away from the cold dungeon.

The cold air surges southward and depending on how far south the jet stream digs, is sometimes capable of reaching typically mild or warm areas such as south Texas, the Deep South and Florida.

Over Europe, the cold air originates out of Siberia and spill south and west overwhelming much of the continent.

Meanwhile, at the surface the traffic jam is played out a bit differently but the conclusion is the same.





Let's use the recent arctic blast over the eastern 2/3 of the United States as an example.

A large area of low pressure is incapable of moving west to east with the block in place and either loiters or retrogrades back to the west - hanging out over eastern Canada.

With a counter-clockwise flow around low pressure systems, a persistent northerly flow is triggered. This northerly wind flow captures the very cold air that is bottled up over the arctic and transports it southward.

The Greenland Block was so strong that the atmospheric traffic jam was capable of existing for not just days but weeks.

This allowed for the cold northerly flow to continue nearly uninterrupted day in and day out - transporting fresh bouts of arctic air into the Deep South including Florida.

Finally, the trough that has been in place over the eastern 2/3 of the United States will begin to lift and the jet stream will shift northward allowing milder air from the south penetrate northward.

This will give way to a United States that will enjoy more seasonable temperatures after a very long record cold stretch of days.

by Tim Ballisty - Weather.com

December 8 Freeze Report

Here are the updates we received for conditions around the state.
Updated 3:45pm

Hillsborough County strawberry growers utilized water irrigation to mitigate the effects of the below freezing area temperatures. At the Plant City SFM, overnight low was 30 degrees. During a routine early morning drive-by inspection of the fields, there was a distinct heavy frost on the ground and fencing.
Michael C. Tucker, Sr Market Manager, Plant City State Farmers Market


Strawberries experienced another cold night with some areas reporting as low as 24F. Freeze duration was about from midnight until 8 AM Besides irrigation some farms are already experimenting with areas of cloth covering as an alternative. Weather seems dyslexic - it was 85 last Tuesday & Wednesday, and high is forecast at 58 today. We are in the early weeks of harvest, and this cold is slowing fruit maturity a bit. Therefore it is very frustrating not to be able to supply the presently high consumer demand. Growers are also concerned about the tender blooms on the plants. Damage to blooms can cause future problems ranging from misshapen fruit to erratic production spikes, and that will not be visible for a week or two. The current forecast shows improving temperatures until next Tuesday, so farmers can again sleep at night, and they expect to get back into a normal harvest pattern quickly.
Ted Campbell, FL Strawberry Growers Assoc.

The cold weather did not hurt the blueberry bushes because they are not blooming yet। They usually bloom in late December।
Maribel Lebron , Island Grove Ag Products, Hawthorne

Putnam County: Palatka dropped to 24 degrees, Larry Corn, of L&M Farm, (over 2,000 acres of Collards, Kale, Mustards), they have some damage, but will not know for several days the full extent of the damage. East Palatka and Hastings had 6 to 8 hours of freezing temperatures last night. No potatoes in the ground at this time. A few growers should start planting in the next couple weeks.
Terry Driggers, Sr Market Manager, Palatka State Farmers' Market

Indian River area fell into the upper 20’s again near daybreak. Durations at the 28 degree mark were not long enough to damage citrus fruit, but should serve to advance tree cold hardiness. Lots of ground frost was evident, although not as heavy as Monday morning.
Tim Gaver, Extension Agent II – Citrus, UF/IFAS/St. Lucie County

The temperatures dropped to around 32 degrees in the groves, it dropped to around 28 degrees in some low-lying areas, but it didn't stay cold enough for long enough to do damage. “The more you rehearse these routines of getting up and checking the groves and running the irrigation, and keeping your irrigation systems in optimum running condition, the better off you're going to be prepared to handle a catastrophic event.”
John Arnold, Owner, Showcase of Citrus, Clermont

Due to extended period of heavy frost on the ground probably considerable damage to “tender crops” i.e. cucumbers, squash. Damage estimate won’t be known till next week. Warm weather forecasted for remainder with weekend in 70s and this doesn’t help the situation.
Jerry Hubbart, Sr Market Manager, Immokalee State Farmers’ Market

Top 8 tropical fish producers in Hillsborough County were polled. One anticipated damage, but won’t know for weeks how much. 50% say there could be possible losses, but won’t know for a while. Ample time to get ready for the freeze and all took necessary precautions.
Division of Seafood, FDACS

Damage to young sugar cane plants, won’t know extend till later. Sugar cane agents have to go into the fields and examine each plant. Complete report will be forwarded.
Gene McAvoy, Director, Hendry & Regional IFAS

Green bean loss, 800 acres in Belle Glade, 800 acre @ $4000 acre
Eva Webb, FL Farm Bureau Federation

Corn and beans grower-shippers report significant damage in the Belle Glade, some growers reported temperatures fell to 27 degrees Dec. 8. “There’s a lot of damage around, there are going to be shortages for the next months for sure on beans and corn.
Paul Allen, Pahokee-based R.C. Hatton Farms

Though growers are still viewing the damage, buyers should expect small bean volume. “It appears that we have lost all our beans, they suffered significant damage. On the corn, we are still trying to assess the damage.” Four to five hours of 28-degree temperatures can kill plants. Wholesale green bean prices jumped to $22 to $24 a crate, doubling from what prices were a week ago, the increase isn't solely due to the freezing temperatures. "Supplies tightened up going into the weekend and the cold made it worse.”
Gene Duff / Bryan Biederman, Pioneer Growers Co-op, Belle Glade

As the state’s tomato deal is transitioning from central Florida’s fall crop in Palmetto-Ruskin to south Florida’s Immokalee winter deal, tomatoes sustained some damage. “There is a little more damage around (from the previous night’s freeze). It wasn’t a wipe-out and it didn’t put us out of business.”
Reggie Brown, Florida Tomato Committee

Immokalee area didn’t experience much wind, which usually keeps temperatures from falling too low. “We have had some freeze damage and a lot of frost damage, some areas are perfect, while other areas got hit real well, but we are still in business.”
Richard Levine,Immokalee Produce Shippers Inc.( Roma and grape tomato grower-shipper)

"We started flying helicopters at 3:40 a.m., the wind blew all night until that time and it suddenly became very calm. Mainly sub-freezing conditions on tender plants, the real problem we and others will face is the fact that we have a damaged crop with at least one more cold night staring us in the face."
John S. Hundley, Hundley Farms, Belle Glade

Temperatures in the Fort Pierce area dipped below the freezing mark for approximately three hours last night. Gielow Pickles reported they had 100% loss of their cucumber crop at their farms in Okeechobee and Myakka. Peppers at both locations seemed to fair pretty well.
Mike Brown, Sr. Market Manager, Fort Pierce State Farmers’ Market

Temperatures Around the State

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December 7 Freeze Update

The National Weather Service has issued hard freeze warnings for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning for much of the Florida panhandle, with freeze warnings and watches extending as far south as Hollywood. Less wind is expected tonight. Fort Lauderdale recorded its lowest temperature on record for December 7, dropping to 40 degrees Tuesday morning. The old record was 42, set in 1841. Here are the updates we received so far from around the state.
Updated 3:10pm

More near-record lows expected overnight will pose another challenge.
"We came through last night in pretty good shape, we had some reports of mid-20s scattered across the citrus belt but it wasn't for any duration."
Andrew Meadows, Florida Citrus Mutual

Eastern Hillsborough County experienced temperature conditions to the existing strawberry fields that warranted many of the farmers turning on their water. At the Plant City State farmers Market (SFM) low temperature reading was 33 degrees; however, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) is reporting that temperatures, coupled with elevated winds, showed isolated area temperatures as low as 29 degrees. Duration for watering did not exceed five hours. A number of fields were still watering as late as 7:15 AM, with a light accumulation of ice on the property fencing. The FSGA stated that 28 degrees is a magic temperature number for early stages of damage, but that no farmers were reporting any as of 8:30 AM.
Michael C. Tucker, Senior Market Manager, Plant City State Farmers Market

It is the first week of December and farmers are already scrambling to make sure sprinklers and water pipes are working. The wind worsens the problem because it blows the water around, so the berries don't get consistent coverage and the cold burns them. It turns out the timing of this freeze couldn't be worse because harvesting just started a couple of weeks ago. Parkesdale pickers filled a pallet of berries on Monday. "We got a lot of flower out there and that's what we're really trying to protect is our flower because it’s so sensitive. The flower gets burned real easy and then it will be a deformed berry or won't produce a berry and once that happens well, that was what you were going to be picking in a couple weeks.”
Matt Parke, Parkesdale Farms, Dover

Widespread frost around SW Florida with lows between 29-31 degrees, depending on the location. Some crop damage especially to sensitive items like cucumbers, corn, melons, bean - foliage tops frosted in tomatoes, eggplants - nothing catastrophic reported. Pasture grasses frosted and burned. Citrus OK
Gene McAvoy , County Extension Director, UF/IFAS Hendry County Extension

The growing region sustained more damage in fields farther away from Belle Glade। “There’s definitely damage here, but it’s too early to tell how much. There may be more damage out there farther away from the lake (Lake Okeechobee). I haven’t talked with all the growers, but I think everyone has a little bit of damage.”
Randy Wilkinson, president, Wilkinson-Cooper Produce Inc, Belle Glade

Southwest Florida citrus farmers are still reeling from record losses last year. Citrus growers say all they can do is make sure their irrigation systems are working properly so when they turn them on this evening, the water will keep their oranges frost-free. It's the first time this season they'll need to use the system to protect all 5,000 acres of trees from frost. Last season's cold snap brought 26 straight days of freezing temperatures. Sorrells lost 30,000 trees. The trees can withstand 32 degrees for 8 hours and 28 degrees for 6 hours.
Justin Sorrells of Sorrells Citrus, Inc.

The tomato industry is still struggling from last winter. Pacific Tomato Grower is one of the three largest tomato farms in the country. That fact could weigh against them as preparation for a cold snap would take days. "Well, we have 2,000 acres that's a lot of covering." So instead of using freeze cloths, they'll use water and wait out the cold. "You can build the temperature up a couple degrees with water, and that's about it. But sometimes a couple degrees is all it takes. If it goes three, four, five hours, we could be just like last year and that'd be a real bad thing,"
Britt Keene, manager, Pacific Tomato Grower, Ave Maria

Tender green beans and sweet corn are most at risk as cold temperatures not seen this early since 1937 are expected to descend on parts of Palm Beach County, the nation's No. 1 winter vegetable producer. The earliest freeze on record in Belle Glade was Dec. 7, 1937, and this morning's temperatures were forecast to match that. With their Christmas crops in the fields, growers scrambled Monday to harvest what they could. Tens of millions of dollars' worth of vegetables are vulnerable.
David Sui, Palm Beach County vegetable extension agent

The next few days will be tough for farmers from the Everglades Agricultural Area to Immokalee, with Wednesday and Thursday mornings also expected to be freezing. "This could have a dramatic effect on availability and prices for Christmas and New Year's food buying. Growers plant for December harvest, but we do not normally have to contend with freezing temps until after the first of the year."
John Hundley, vice president, Hundley Farms, Belle Glade

Temperatures in the Hardee County vicinity dropped as low as 26. Most areas reported freezing temperatures by 11PM. The strawberry farmers ran their irrigation for 2 -3 hours. Most of the vegetables here were already over. There was a hard frost and pasture grass saw significant damage.
Diana Durrance, Senior Market Manager, Wauchula State Farmers’ Market

Freeze warnings sent orange juice futures soaring to their highest level in three-and-a-half years on Monday also. Barring drastic variances from the forecast lows, the cold could actually aid the Florida citrus crop by putting trees into a dormant state that prevents new leaf growth while continuing to bear fruit. Those new leaves and shoots are most vulnerable to future freezes, and Florida citrus growers said that the early cold snap could act like a vaccination against further cold weather this winter.
The Produce News

Tomato growers already know that their crop sustained damage from Monday night's freeze, with two more rough nights on the way. Florida tomato production is mostly located in the southwestern part of the state, where temperatures are often colder than inland and further north in a geographic anomaly. "There has definitely been some pretty good damage; we'll get a better feel over the next couple of days. We're expecting more of the same tonight and tomorrow -- same thing upper 20s and lower 30s. We'll have a fight on our hands the next couple of days."
Bob Spencer, West Coast Tomato, Palmetto, FL

Freezing Temperatures Persist

This high is providing a blast of chilly air.

Portions of northern Florida will fall into the 20s, while South Florida drops into the low 40s along the coast. Record lows are likely to fall each morning.







The maps provided are a courtesy of Weather.com

FREEZE IN THE FORECAST

FREEZE WARNINGS AND WATCHES ARE FORECASTED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE STATE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE SAYS A HARD FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. COLD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AND A HARD FREEZE IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Coastal Walton, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Inland Walton, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST TUESDAY.

TONIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL FALL QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET WITH VALUES BELOW FREEZING BEFORE MIDNIGHT. MINIMUM VALUES WILL FALL INTO THE LOWER 20S INLAND WITH UPPER 30S ALONG COASTAL AREAS. SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS TONIGHT. A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Union

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING FOR 3 OR MORE HOURS OF TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 27 AND 32 OVER A WIDESPREAD AREA... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM EST TUESDAY. COLD AIR WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT INTO THE REGION THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM PUSHES SOUTH. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW FREEZING FOR SEVERAL HOURS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS. COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL BEGIN TO SHUT OFF BY WEDNESDAY BUT CLEAR SKIES AND WEAKER WINDS WILL ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF RADIATIONAL COOLING.

A FREEZE WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

Charlotte, Coastal Bay, Coastal Dixie, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Gulf, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Taylor, Coastal Volusia, Coastal Wakulla, De Soto,, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Inland Broward, Inland Collier, Inland Miami-dade, Inland Miami-Dade , Inland Palm Beach, Inland Volusia, Lee, Mainland Monroe, Mainland Monroe, Manatee, Martin, Northern Brevard, Northern Lake, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco
Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, South Walton, Southern Brevard, Southern Lake, St. Lucie, Sumter

Drought Forecast For Southwest Florida

One of the strongest La Niñas in more than a half century could force water managers this winter to impose tougher water shortage restrictions on SW Florida for only the second time ever.

Southwest Florida Water Management District officials and meteorologists say that conditions are setting up to make this one of the driest dry seasons on record.

"If the forecast is right, we could see a drought such as there was in the 1950s," said Charles Dauray, who represents Southwest Florida on the South Florida Water Management District.

La Niña is a phenomenon of colder-than-normal ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that drives dry weather into Florida.

"Even a normal season in Southwest Florida is bone dry," said Jim Farrell, WINK-TV chief meteorologist. "Any season below normal is not a good thing."

During a typical winter season, between 8 and 11 inches of rain will fall in Lee and Collier counties from December through March, but this year experts are predicting much less.

Story by Bob Rathgeber of News-Press.com a news agency covering Ft. Myers & SW Florida

To read more from the article click on link provided below.

Conditions Ripe For Dry Winter

Forecast Into Next Week

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Temperatures Around the State

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Current Drought Conditions

After another week of little to no rainfall, D0 conditions have expanded to cover all but extreme southeastern sections of the state, and severe to extreme drought now exists across eastern sections of the northern and eastern Panhandle.

Over the last 90 days, parts of northeastern and east-central Florida recorded 8 to locally over 12 inches less precipitation than normal while deficits of 4 to 8 inches covered most other portions of central and northern Florida as dryness and, in some areas, serious drought conditions continued to develop and expand.

Temperatures Around the State

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