Frost/Freeze — Hillsborough, Florida
2010-01-10 to 2010-01-11 · Hillsborough, Florida
Event narrative
Hillsborough county had below freezing temperatures for 10 to 13 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 4 to 8 hours. The ASOS station at the Tampa International Airport recorded a low of 25 degrees, breaking the previous low of 27 degrees set in 1982. The lowest temperature across the county of 19 degrees was recorded at the Tampa Executive Airport near Vandenburg, and a mesonet station in Valrico. The county has 44,661 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $5.28 million in crop damages. The Florida Aquaculture Industry suffered approximately $5.2 million in damages across the county. Excessive water pumping occurred at farms during this period to protect strawberries and other fruits, which caused a lowering of the water table in eastern Hillsborough county. The result was 751 complaints of dried-up residential wells and $2.6 million to stabilize 80 sinkholes from Seffner through Plant City. Major highways, Interstate 4, and several homes were damaged by the sink holes. More than 1,600 water distribution pipes throughout the city of Tampa suffered breaks. The damage varies from water mains to residential hookups and repair costs are estimated at $400,000. A minor leak formed in the Rowlett Park dam when the low water temperatures caused an epoxy seal on a concrete seam to contract and break. Costs to repair the leak are $15,000.
Wider weather episode
With an already cold air mass in place, a cold front moved through the area on January 8th. An upper disturbance then passed over the area on January 9th, causing some areas from Tampa north to experience sleet and snow flurries mixed with the light rain. Very cold and very dry Arctic high pressure then built into the area causing temperatures to plummet into the teens and twenties across the area each morning from January 10th through January 12th, and remain below freezing for numerous hours each night. The morning of January 11th was the coldest of all the mornings. Numerous minimum temperature records were broken at several recording stations across the area each night.
The extent of the cold combined with the multiple day duration caused significant damage to crops across the area. Marine life also suffered greatly, with the aquaculture industry devastated and wildlife enduring numerous fish kills and rescue efforts for manatees and sea turtles due to the Gulf of Mexico water temperatures dropping into the upper 40s. Nearly 200 of the roughly 5,000 manatee population perished from the cold. There were 47 sea turtles rescued from local beaches, 10 of which perished from the cold. Saltwater snook, bonefish, and tarpon endured widespread fish kills and caused the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to extend the closed fishing seasons until September for snook and until April for bonefish and tarpon. Freshwater tilapia also suffered widespread kills, with some lakes reporting up to 95 percent of the population killed.
Estimates of the crop damage are listed below by county. Preliminary commodity losses were computed using data from the Florida Department of Agriculture. This data included the measurable loss of shipments from average for each commodity which led to an estimated $249.5 million in damage in Florida due to the freeze events in January. The largest impact was on the tomato crop with an estimated 5.1 million cases lost. Other losses in order of greatest impact included tangerines, oranges, bell peppers, snap beans and strawberries.
Levy county felt freezing temperatures for 12 to 14 hours across the county, with temperatures falling below 28 degrees for 8 to 10 hours. The Usher Tower cooperative station near Chiefland recorded the coldest minimum temperature across the county of 15 degrees, which broke the previous record low of 21 degrees set in 1982 and 1959. Levy county has 44,870 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $5.30 million in damages to crops.
Citrus county experienced freezing temperatures for 12 to 14 hours, with temperatures falling below 28 degrees for 6 to 8 hours. The cooperative station near Inverness recorded a low of 18 degrees, which broke the previous record low of 25 degrees set in 1959. The coldest temperature experienced across the county occurred at a site near Holder, with a low of 14 degrees. The average temperature for the month at the Inverness cooperative station was the fourth coldest since records began in 1948. Citrus county has 6,146 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.73 million in crop damages.
Sumter county had below freezing temperatures for around 9 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for around 4 hours. The station near Bushnell recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 22 degrees, with the AWOS station at The Villages recording a low of 23 degrees. The county has 16,222 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $1.92 million in damages to crops.
Hernando county had below freezing temperatures for 10 to 15 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 5 to 6 hours. The Chin Hill cooperative station near Brooksville recorded a low of 23 degrees, which broke the previous record of 26 degrees set in 1942 and ended up being the sixth coldest month since records began in 1892. The ASOS station at the Hernando County Airport recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 14 degrees. Hernando county has 8,212 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.97 million in crop damages.
Pasco county had below freezing temperatures for 10 to 14 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 2 to 4 hours. The St. Leo cooperative station experienced a low of 27 degrees, with the lowest temperature across the county recorded at a mesonet station in north Dade City of 23 degrees. The average temperature for the month at the St. Leo cooperative station was the sixth coldest since records began in 1895. Pasco county has 20,673 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $2.44 million in crop damages.
Pinellas county did not suffer damages to crops and had less than 100 acres of harvested farmland in 2007. A 77-year-old man, his 72-year-old wife, and their 41-year-old daughter were hospitalized from being sickened by carbon monoxide after using a charcoal barbecue grill to heat their home for 12 hours due to the power going out from a blown transformer. The low temperature recorded at the Albert Whitted Airport was 35 degrees and the high temperature was 42 degrees, which set a new record low maximum temperature record. The previous record low maximum temperature was 48 degrees set in 1970.
Hillsborough county recorded an unofficial low temperature of 19 degrees from a home weather station in Valrico. The low temperature recorded at the Tampa International Airport was 28 degrees, and the high was 43 degrees, setting a new record low maximum temperature. The previous record low maximum was 49 degrees set in 1970. The average temperature for the month at the ASOS station at the Tampa International Airport was the sixth coldest since records began in 1890. Hillsborough county has 44,661 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $5.28 million in crop damages. The Florida Aquaculture Industry suffered approximately $5.2 million in damages across the county. Excessive water pumping occurred at farms during this period to protect strawberries and other fruits, which caused a lowering of the water table in eastern Hillsborough county. The result was 751 complaints of dried-up residential wells and $2.6 million to stabilize 80 sinkholes from Seffner through Plant City. Major highways, Interstate 4, and several homes were damaged by the sink holes. More than 1,600 water distribution pipes throughout the city of Tampa suffered breaks. The damage varies from water mains to residential hookups and repair costs are estimated at $400,000. A minor leak formed in the Rowlett Park dam when the low water temperatures caused an epoxy seal on a concrete seam to contract and break. Costs to repair the leak are $15,000. Tampa Fire Rescue responded to several fires started by a space heater and malfunctioning fireplace and home heating unit.
Polk county had below freezing temperatures for 10 to 14 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 3 to 4 hours. The cooperative station at the Lakeland Linder Airport recorded a low of 23 degrees, breaking the previous low of 31 degrees set in 1977. The lowest temperature across the county of 16 degrees was recorded at a mesonet station in Kathleen. The average temperature for the month at the Plant City cooperative station was the sixth coldest since records began in 1892. The average temperature for the month at the Lakeland cooperative station was the eigth coldest since records began in 1915. The county has 115,721 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $13.67 million in crop damages. The Florida Aquaculture Industry suffered approximately $1.8 million in damages across the county.
Manatee county had below freezing temperatures for 5 to 7 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for around 3 hours. The ASOS station at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport recorded a low of 28 degrees, breaking the previous low of 29 degrees set in 1959. The lowest temperature across the county of 24 degrees was recorded at the cooperative station near Duette. The average temperature for the month at the ASOS station at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport was the fifth coldest since records began in 1948. The county has 58,920 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $6.96 million in crop damages. The Florida Aquaculture Industry suffered approximately $0.9 million in damages across the county.
Hardee county had below freezing temperatures for around 12 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 4 to 6 hours. The FAWN station at Ona recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 25 degrees, with a station at Wauchula recording a low of 28 degrees. The county has 53,378 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $6.31 million in damages to crops.
Desoto county had below freezing temperatures for around 12 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 4 to 6 hours. The FAWN station at Arcadia recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 24 degrees. The county has 63,585 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $7.51 million in damages to crops.
Highlands county had below freezing temperatures for 7 to 9 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 4 to 6 hours. The cooperative station at Archbold recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 21 degrees, breaking the previous low of 22 degrees set in 1970. The average temperature for the month at the Avon Park cooperative station was the third coldest since records began in 1901. The county has 83,516 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $9.87 million in crop damages.
Sarasota county had below freezing temperatures for 5 to 7 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 1 to 2 hours. The FAWN station at North Port recorded the lowest temperature across the county of 27 degrees, with the C-MAN station at Venice recording a low of 31 degrees. The county has 5,969 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $0.71 million in damages to crops. The Florida Aquaculture Industry suffered approximately $0.9 million in damages across the county.
Charlotte county had below freezing temperatures for around 10 hours, with temperatures below 28 degrees for 2 to 3 hours. The cooperative station at Punta Gorda recorded a low of 28 degrees, breaking the previous low of 30 degrees set in 1970. The lowest temperature across the county of 23 degrees was set at a station in Port Charlotte. The average temperature for the month at the ASOS station at the Charlotte County Airport was the third coldest since records began in 1965. The county has 21,663 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $2.56 million in crop damages.
Lee county had below freezing temperatures for 3 to 6 hours. The ASOS station at Fort Myers/Page Field recorded a low of 31 degrees, breaking the previous low of 32 degrees set in 1959. The lowest temperature across the county of 28 degrees was set at a station in Lehigh Acres. The average temperature for the month at the ASOS station at Fort Myers/Page Field was the tenth coldest since records began in 1902. The county has 18,308 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $2.16 million in crop damages.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 212363. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.