Nearly 25 million people in the southeastern United States have received a freeze warning issued by local U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) offices.
The warning comes into force on Monday night (18) and will last until Tuesday morning (19), in a region that stretches from the state of Texas to North Carolina.
Frost watches and warnings were also issued further south in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Crop damage
Temperatures in the southeastern United States on Tuesday morning (19) will be below normal for this time of year.
Atlanta, Charlotte and Birmingham, Alabama, are expected to record temperatures between -6°C It is –1°C posing a risk to crops.
“Frost and freezing conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor pipes,” warns the NWS office in Peachtree City, Georgia.
Among the recommended measures to overcome the situation is, if possible, taking the plants home, or covering them.
However, protecting the harvest can be a little more difficult.
Fruits and trees have been blooming for a few weeks, with the end of the warmest winter on record in the United States. An unusually warm winter sends ill-timed signals for plants and food to start sprouting sooner.
When a well-timed frost occurs in March, they are left exposed and unprotected, putting them at risk of frost and freeze damage.
Farmers need to use tarps, irrigation and large fans to cover crops as much as possible to avoid damage.
This cold snap will cause cities in the U.S. Midwest, South, and East Coast to experience temperatures more typical of January and February than those typically experienced in early March.
St. Louis may fluctuate by more than 6 degrees Celsius, going from 15°C on Saturday (16) to 4°C this Monday (18). Atlanta's temperature could drop by up to 10 degrees Celsius from Saturday to Monday: from 21°C to around 10°C.
These temperatures may not be freezing, but in some parts of the South they are more typical of mid-winter.
Memphis, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, are forecast for highs of 10°C this Monday, temperatures typical of mid-January.
The maximum temperature in Philadelphia this Tuesday is expected to be 7°C, the average maximum on February 19.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
