WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): What other implications will there be with the recent Arctic outbreak and Deep South winter storm?
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill explains:
The crucial tipping point for the Arctic blast to cripple the Florida Citrus industry is a temperature of 28 degrees or colder for 3 to 4 hours or more (3 hours for younger oranges and 4 hours for mature oranges).
The coldest temperatures expected in Florida will occur at daybreak Saturday, with only minimal damage expected to the citrus crop in the northern part of the Indian River District. Temperatures will drop to 28-32 degrees by daybreak Saturday.
The Arctic outbreaks that triggered the most damage to Florida’s citrus belt include December 1894, February 1895, February 1899, the 1934-35 winter, 1939-40 winter, 1957-58 winter, December 1962, January 1977 and a few winters in the 1980s.
During the devastating January 1977 cold outbreak, temperatures dropped to the lower 30s as far south as Miami.
Hurricane winds can also destroy the citrus crop, and Milton was a prime example of a major hurricane that ripped through Florida’s citrus belt last year.
