DoomsdaysCW#Florida growers battle rare freeze as temperatures plunge, threatening crops
by Emilee Speck
Tue, February 3, 2026 at 3:48 PM EST
"Roy Petteway, of Petteway Citrus and Cattle, in Zolfo Springs, told AccuWeather he is already seeing damage from Saturday's freeze, when temperatures dropped into the low 20s. Impacts include browning leaves and shriveled blooms.
"While Florida farmers continue to assess losses from the weekend cold snap, AccuWeather experts say the duration of freezing temperatures has already impacted future harvests.
" 'This recent freeze may have destroyed or severely damaged 8 to 10 percent of the current citrus crop on the trees. We will learn more about the extent of the damage as the citrus groves are assessed in the coming days,' AccuWeather Founder and Executive Chair Dr. Joel N. Myers said.
" 'Temperatures dropped into the mid-20s, with lows of 23 to 24 degrees reported in some orange groves. Damage can set in when temperatures fall to 28 degrees or lower for four consecutive hours.' "
Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/florida-growers-battle-rare-freeze-204811290.html
#FloridaWx #ColdSnap #ExtremeCold #ClimateChange #FloridaFreeze #CitrusCrops
Tina M Casey
Tina M Casey