Sounding the Alarm for the American Southeast region

2Angels

2Angels

Moderator
This just makes me sick, guys. As a farmer, I watch the weather very closely. This morning, the latest weather models are starting to come into agreement that a major Polar Vortex event is coming again in early January. At this point, it looks every bit as bad as last year, if not worse. Models are projecting this to go very deep into Florida. I am supposedly in zone 8-A but the last two winters, we have had a polar vortex event bringing lows in the single digits. Both years that has meant the majority of my trees died to the ground even with light protection. The current forecast for my area projects below-freezing temps continually for several days, with possible low temps as low as zero F. This is a serious threat to our fig trees. Even potted trees in unheated spaces, like a shed, garage, etc. are in danger without added heat. Beyond fig trees, pipes are at risk of freezing. North of Tennessee it could even mean a potential ice storm. There is time to prepare, so I encourage you to do whatever is necessary to protect your family, your home, and your figs (in that order.) The timing, intensity, and duration, could all change between now and then, and almost certainly will change. (I hope for the better) but this gives us time to prepare. I hope this doesn't happen...

Here is a weatherman on YT that I watch because he is far less prone to "hyping" than most of the others I have seen: Video Link

US Climate Prediction Center 8-14 day outlook: Link HERE

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SpiritFarmVa said:
We have a bunch of citrus in a greenhouse that’s been fine so far but if we go lower we will have to supplement heat.
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It is wonderful to have the option available to you. I have one inground orange tree in a greenhouse, and I will be adding some supplemental heat too.
 
2Angels said:
This just makes me sick, guys. As a farmer, I watch the weather very closely. This morning, the latest weather models are starting to come into agreement that a major Polar Vortex event is coming again in early January. At this point, it looks every bit as bad as last year, if not worse. Models are projecting this to go very deep into Florida. I am supposedly in zone 8-A but the last two winters, we have had a polar vortex event bringing lows in the single digits. Both years that has meant the majority of my trees died to the ground even with light protection. The current forecast for my area projects below-freezing temps continually for several days, with possible low temps as low as zero F. This is a serious threat to our fig trees. Even potted trees in unheated spaces, like a shed, garage, etc. are in danger without added heat. Beyond fig trees, pipes are at risk of freezing. North of Tennessee it could even mean a potential ice storm. There is time to prepare, so I encourage you to do whatever is necessary to protect your family, your home, and your figs (in that order.) The timing, intensity, and duration, could all change between now and then, and almost certainly will change. (I hope for the better) but this gives us time to prepare. I hope this doesn't happen...

Here is a weatherman on YT that I watch because he is far less prone to "hyping" than most of the others I have seen: Video Link

US Climate Prediction Center 8-14 day outlook: Link HERE

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Thanks for the heads up. 5 stars for you.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
 
Ugh, yeah and watch the forecast updates. It looks ok for my area in MD so far, lows of 15, 17 etc.... but that often gets revised down quickly as it approaches. I'm just hoping we stay in the teens for our low this year... not likely, but we did last year. I imagine these events can be a nightmare for southern growers that aren't used to it getting much below freezing
 
Hm....now I was just checking our 7 to 10 day outlook, we show none of that hitting here.
But I seen somewhere we could get snow beginning of the year.
This is from 3 different places...

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ktrain said:
I'm going to light up my property like Clark Griswald style, that should keep everything from freezing!

Hunker down and stay safe good peoples.
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Do you ever hose down all the plants before a freeze? I’ve found this works to buy myself a few degrees
 
ktrain said:
Heard lots of y'alls do that, never tried it though.
I believe it works, at least to a point.
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We had a conversation with a citrus grower in Georgia about water for frost protection. He emphasized once you start watering you must water all night until the sun starts melting the ice. If you stop watering at all the plants will fry. He made that specific point very clear. This is a 30+ year citrus grower. But that being said it does work well.
 
SpiritFarmVa said:
We had a conversation with a citrus grower in Georgia about water for frost protection. He emphasized once you start watering you must water all night until the sun starts melting the ice. If you stop watering at all the plants will fry. He made that specific point very clear. This is a 30+ year citrus grower. But that being said it does work well.
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I bring my citrus in, though, ... I do plan to put an Owari in ground.
But I am prepared to protect it in the winter.
 
SpiritFarmVa said:
We had a conversation with a citrus grower in Georgia about water for frost protection. He emphasized once you start watering you must water all night until the sun starts melting the ice. If you stop watering at all the plants will fry. He made that specific point very clear. This is a 30+ year citrus grower. But that being said it does work well.
Click to expand...
I've seen vinyards in the Niagara region do it but I don't think they ran the water all night. Maybe on and off to prevent it from evaporating off..... Perhaps it's different with citrus... It definitely only goes so far. I think it's a couple of degrees at best.

It is a really cool process that in changing from a liquid to a solid, the water actually generates heat.
 
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