Frost/Freeze — De Soto, Florida

2010-02-26 · De Soto, Florida

Event narrative

Desoto County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 3 hours across much of the county. It has 63,585 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $1.00 million in crop damages.

Wider weather episode

A cold front moved through the area on February 24th, with cold Canadian high pressure settling over the area behind the front. The night of the 25th into the morning of the 26th was the coldest, with several counties across the northern half of the area experiencing 8 hour or longer sub-freezing durations. With the extreme freezes and losses that occurred in January, this freeze at the end of February caused additional losses to already weakened and newly planted crops.

Estimates of crop damage are listed below by county for the month of February. 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.

Levy County felt sub-freezing temperatures for around 8 hours across much of the county. The Usher Tower cooperative station near Chiefland experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 23 degrees. Levy County has 44,870 acres of harvested farmland, which translates into approximately $0.71 million in damages to crops.

Citrus County felt sub-freezing temperatures for around 8 hours across much of the county. The AWOS station near Crystal River experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 25 degrees. Citrus County has 6,146 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.10 million in crop damages.

Hernando County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 7 to 8 hours across much of the county. The ASOS station at the Brooksville-Hernando County Airport, and the FAWN station in Brooksville both experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 26 degrees. Hernando County has 8,212 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.13 million in crop damages.

Sumter County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 4 to 7 hours across much of the county. The Bushnell cooperative station experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 27 degrees. Sumter County has 16,222 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.26 million in crop damages.

Pasco County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 2 to 5 hours across much of the county. A mesonet station in Dade City experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 27 degrees. Pasco County has 20,673 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.33 million in crop damages.

Hillsborough County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 2 to 5 hours across much of the county. The AWOS station at the Tampa Executive Airport experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 30 degrees. Hillsborough County has 44,661 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.70 million in crop damages.

Polk County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 2 to 5 hours across much of the county, with isolated locations experiencing up to 8 hours. A mesonet station near Lakeland experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 26 degrees. Polk County has 115,721 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $1.82 million in crop damages.

Manatee County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 2 to 5 hours across much of the county. The Fort Green cooperative station near Duette experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 27 degrees. Manatee County has 58,920 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.93 million in crop damages.

Sarasota County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 2 hours across mainly eastern portions of the county. It has 5,969 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.09 million in crop damages.

Hardee County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 3 hours across much of the county. It has 53,378 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.84 million in crop damages.

Desoto County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 3 hours across much of the county. It has 63,585 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $1.00 million in crop damages.

Highlands County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 3 to 6 hours across much of the county. The Archbold cooperative station experienced the coldest temperature across the county of 24 degrees. Highlands County has 83,516 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $1.32 million in crop damages.

Charlotte County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 2 hours across mainly eastern portions of the county. It has 21,663 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.34 million in crop damages.

Lee County felt sub-freezing temperatures for 1 to 2 hours across mainly eastern portions of the county. It has 18,308 acres of harvested farmland, which is approximately $0.29 million in crop damages.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 216688. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.