Florida FREEZE and Tropical Plant Damage: Coldest Since 1989

[gatorcane]

Let's use this thread to discuss damage to tropical plants such as Palms, Ficus, and other. I think this shot coming in for this weekend has the potential to be the one-two punch that sadly knocks out most of the Royal Palms, Coconut Palms, Foxtail palms etc, that were planted out of the proper growing zones.

Areas such as Tampa, Orlando, and Melbourne, where I noticed alot of these palms have been planted are in big time jeapardy this weekend. I think all but South FL (except interior South FL north of Alligator Alley), and right along the coastline in Central FL from about the mouth of the Tampa Bay area (including right along the coastline in Southern Pinellas) south will be spared.

[JonathanBelles]

The palm trees will be just fine here. The grass is already brown or black from two frosts. Worried about the bushes more than anything.

[gatorcane]

The palm trees will be just fine here. The grass is already brown or black from two frosts. Worried about the bushes more than anything.

Depends which Palm tree you are talking. Queens and Sabals for example, will be OK. Those have higher tolerance and can handle temps that briefly dip into the 20s (especially the sabals). It's the Royal Palms and Coconut palms in particular that could see some damage and for St. Petersburg, the damage probably won't be fatal to those types of palms at least for those that are near the coast in Southern Pinellas. Central and Northern Pinellas is another story but I don't see alot of those types of palms growing in that part of the county anyway.

[gatorcane]

Snippet from NWS Tampa:

THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY.
DAMAGE IS LIKELY TO COLD SENSITIVE PLANTS...

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.p ... +Statement

[CrazyC83]

The palm trees will be just fine here. The grass is already brown or black from two frosts. Worried about the bushes more than anything.

Are you on an island or on the mainland? Islands are usually warmer in cold snaps, since there is moderating influence in all directions.

If it was colder still with a northwest flow, would "gulf-effect snow" be possible? (being used to lake-effect snows in similar situations)

[JonathanBelles]

The palm trees will be just fine here. The grass is already brown or black from two frosts. Worried about the bushes more than anything.

Are you on an island or on the mainland? Islands are usually warmer in cold snaps, since there is moderating influence in all directions.

If it was colder still with a northwest flow, would "gulf-effect snow" be possible? (being used to lake-effect snows in similar situations)

I'm in Pinellas County (Kenneth City if you want to look it up). Gulf Effect snow wont be possible due to a due north wind here. It will snow snowing 50mi out in the GOM though through much of tomorrow.

[psyclone]

i'm afraid there's going to be some significant freeze damage from this one. in pinellas county a freeze should take place right down the spine of the peninsula and these advective freezes are the worst. adonidias, foxtails even pygmy palms could be damaged except for those right along the immediate waterfront. we didn't have damage from the cold nights this past week but this event looks colder...and wind driven.

[gatorcane]

i'm afraid there's going to be some significant freeze damage from this one. in pinellas county a freeze should take place right down the spine of the peninsula and these advective freezes are the worst. adonidias, foxtails even pygmy palms could be damaged except for those right along the immediate waterfront. we didn't have damage from the cold nights this past week but this event looks colder...and wind driven.

I've been checking temps up in the Tampa Bay area. Looks like they may not get out of the 30s all day today for Highs. That is truly amazing. I've never seen it that cold during the day in that part of Florida in all my years in Florida. Extended periods of temperatures below 40F can also kill those types of palms you mention above, not just going below 32F. The i-4 corridor and into the Tampa area may see temps below 40F for almost 24 consecutive hours.

Check out the 11:00AM temps across West Central FL:

FLZ042-048>051-055-056-060-061-091700-
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
CRYSTAL RIVER N/A 32 18 55 NE7 30.25F WCI 26
INVERNESS PTSUNNY 34 20 58 N7 30.25S WCI 27
BROOKSVILLE CLOUDY 34 23 64 N9 30.25F WCI 27
CLEARWATER LGT RAIN 35 28 75 N10 30.24F WCI 27
TAMPA INTL CLOUDY 35 28 75 N8 30.24S WCI 29
TAMPA EXEC LGT RAIN 34 30 86 MISG 30.24S
PLANT CITY CLOUDY 34 32 93 N9 30.25R WCI 26
MACDILL AFB DRIZZLE 35 32 90 N3 30.25S
PETER O KNIGHT MIX PCPN 34 30 86 NE7 30.24S WCI 28
ST PETERSBURG LGT RAIN 36 32 85 N8 30.23S WCI 30
SARASOTA LGT RAIN 36 32 85 N6 30.22R WCI 31

[jasons2k]

This is the coldest day I remember ever seeing for the Tampa area.

NWS is calling for 30F in Dunedin, where my aunt lives. That will damage some of the true tropical palms but it won't be fatal. They had it like this (maybe even worse) just last year.

[gatorcane]

Jasons NWS Tampa just updated their forecast package. Looks like they dropped the expected lows for both tonight and Sun. night a degree or two. Dunedin now expected to get down to 29F, Palm Harbor, 26F and even colder points east into East Lake area and North County. The hard freeze line looks like it is going to creep down from Hernando County into Northern Pinellas. Just how far south into Pinellas it gets is the question. Should that verify it would be the coldest it has been in a couple of decades.

[psyclone]

we'll just have to wait and see. the nws is notorious for over estimating the severity of cold snaps and it is tough to get a hard freeze anywhere in pinellas county although it seems the eastlake/keystone road area has a good shot this time. bottom line...protect your tender plants if you live in florida keep hoping for a miracle.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I can't believe that it's only 36F in Orlando as of 4pm! They haven't had an afternoon this cold in over 20 years (December 1989). If the clouds can clear out some tonight, then a hard freeze is almost guaranteed for central Florida.

[SaskatchewanScreamer]

Plants that are watered in well have a better chance of surviving frost (I'm talking about deep root watering here not just covering the plants with a sheet of ice).

Those that can, and have time, wrap their palms with blankets and use that wonderful silver stuff (duct tape) to hold it all together (I belong to a gardening forum that serious gardeners from Florida, Texa and California belong to).

[JonathanBelles]

I've been in Florida long enough and have enough experience with the local climate here to say that it will likely get into the upper 20's where I am at, and probably around freezing in the "warmer" parts of Pinellas Co.

[Extremeweatherguy]

10pm statewide temperatures...

Tallahassee - 30F
Jacksonville - 31F
Ocala - 27F
Daytona Beach - 31F
Tampa - 30F
Orlando - 32F
Melbourne - 32F
Fort Myers - 37F
West Palm Beach - 37F
Miami - 39F
Key West - 50F

It looks like Orlando and Tampa could easily be in for a 10+ hour freeze overnight.

[psyclone]

brooksville is already down to 20 at 10pm!!! this is gonna hurt. pipe bursting cold for hernando and citrus county.

[gatorcane]

Latest temps across FL. The freeze line is already creeping into the Tampa Bay area and into Northern Pinellas at 9:00pm EST. Unbelievable is all I have to say. I can't see how there will not be widespread damage to tropicals in the Tampa Bay including normally warmer Clearwater/St. Pete area and along the i-4 corridor through Orlando and Melbourne areas.

Further south it's cold, SFL still being saved by some clouds that are lingering but what will happen when they push offshore? Expected low temp in my area is 27F. That would probably be the coldest it has ever been here if that verified.

[jpigott]

Latest temps across FL. The freeze line is already creeping into the Tampa Bay area and into Northern Pinellas at 9:00pm EST. Unbelievable is all I have to say. I can't see how there will not be widespread damage to tropicals in the Tampa Bay including normally warmer Clearwater/St. Pete area and along the i-4 corridor through Orlando and Melbourne areas.

Further south it's cold, SFL still being saved by some clouds that are lingering but what will happen when they push offshore? Expected low temp in my area is 27F. That would probably be the coldest it has ever been here if that verified.

gator - that's an awesome graphic. would you mind updating that image every hour or so or letting us know where you get it from.

[Extremeweatherguy]

11pm statewide temperatures...

Tallahassee - 22F
Jacksonville - 30F
Ocala - 27F
Daytona Beach - 31F
Tampa - 30F
Orlando - 31F
Melbourne - 32F
Fort Myers - 36F
West Palm Beach - 35F
Miami - 38F
Key West - 51F

[psyclone]

as bad as tonight is, tomorrow night should be worse