Frost/Freeze — South Fulton, Georgia

2007-04-07 to 2007-04-09 · South Fulton, Georgia

Wider weather episode

A deep upper low and over the northeast U.S. and associated large Canadian surface high pressure area brought record cold to much of the eastern U.S. during the Easter weekend. Temperatures averaged a good 20 degrees below normal during the period. Freezing temperatures were observed each morning from the 7th through the 9th, but the 7th and 8th brought the most widespread and coldest temperatures to the region. Lows in the 20s were common across much of north and central Georgia, with lower 20s in parts of the northeast Georgia mountains. Average freeze dates for most of north and central Georgia are in late March. Farmers in all of the 96 north and central Georgia counties within the Peachtree City, Georgia forecast area were declared eligible for federal loans as a result of the unusually late hard freeze. The unseasonably cold and freezing temperatures resulted in the loss of nearly 100 percent of the wine grape crop, 86 percent of the blueberry crop, 78 percent of the peach crop, 41 percent loss of grasses, 40 percent of grain loss (corn and wheat), and 29 percent loss of pecan crops. Of these crops, wine grapes are nearly all grown in north Georgia and a substantial portion of the peach crop is grown in central Georgia, both within Peachtree City, Georgia's forecast area. Total losses for the entire state as a result of the freeze were estimated at $258 million, of which 50 to 60 percent of this was estimated to be within the Peachtree City, Georgia forecast area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 32484. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.