POTENTIAL FREEZE late this weekend.
In collaboration with AWIS Weather Service
Welcome back to the most challenging time of the year. The warm weather this week, together with plenty to accumulated chilling hours over the past month, most likely has pushed many of your plants this week.
Some of you in Eastern NC might have started fertilizing already, hoping for an early April begin of season. Well - the weather might have different plans, because we are expecting winds, rain and cold air moving in from up North into mid Atlantic and the Southeastern shore.
We are expecting at the moment minimum temperatures in the low 20s for Monday (3/3/2025) morning in most of North Carolina.Critical temperatures to protect flowers, depending on the stage of development:
- Tight bud: 22.0
- Popcorn: 26.5
- Open blossom: 30.0
- Fruit: 28.0
General Weather Discussion
*** Quick Update For Colder Air Late This Weekend *** Hard Freeze Potential, Mainly Monday Morning *** Warmer Middle Half Next Week *** Increased Rain Threat Middle-End Next Week *** Potentially Colder Again Late Next Week, Next Weekend As is typical this time of year, minor changes in the upper air pattern can yield enough changes in local temperatures to be aware of.Such is the case as a clipper-like system will move through the Great Lakes and into the Northeast Friday and Saturday with another quick shot of polar/arctic air behind it. This will allow another surge of cold air from Canada to dig Southeast, with another hard freeze potential by early next week, with minimums 20-25 ranges.
After that a warmup and increasing shower chances later next week, followed by another cool down behind that towards the following weekend. Given the dynamic weather pattern ahead, please stay alert to daily updates for potential changes that may impact critical management decisions.
