Strong cold front headed to the West
Strong cold front headed to the West
Unprecedented cold temperatures will soon descend upon much of the West and Southwest. California citrus growers in the Central Valley are bracing for a string of cold temperatures Jan. 11-18. Snow is forecast on the valley floor Jan. 12 near Bakersfield. Daytime highs will range from 39 to 55 degrees with overnight lows in the low 20s to 30 degrees. Wind chill temperatures the nights of Jan. 13, 14 and 15 will be in the teens.
Daytime highs in Oxnard will drop from 84 degrees on Jan. 8 to 50 degrees on Jan. 12 -- a swing of 34 degrees in four days. Daytime highs will be in the low to mid-50s Jan. 12-18 with overnight lows in the mid- to upper 30s. The wind chill factor will make it seem like the mid-20s Jan. 13 and 14. The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of an ice storm on Jan. 17.
Vegetable growers near Yuma, AZ, will soon battle another round of lettuce ice and harvest delays. Daytime highs will be in the mid- to upper 50s Jan. 13-18 with overnight lows in the low to mid-30s. Outlying areas will see overnight lows in the mid-20s Jan. 14, 15 and 16. There is the possibility of a trace of snow on Jan. 13.
What can produce buyers do? Load your trucks now in advance of cold weather injury and market advances.
(Bill Armstrong is a self-employed produce broker who operates Armstrong Marketing in Salinas, CA. His Fresh Directions column appears in the Marketrack section of this web site every Wednesday afternoon/Thursday morning. He may be reached at ArmstrongMarketing@comc ast.net
Daytime highs in Oxnard will drop from 84 degrees on Jan. 8 to 50 degrees on Jan. 12 -- a swing of 34 degrees in four days. Daytime highs will be in the low to mid-50s Jan. 12-18 with overnight lows in the mid- to upper 30s. The wind chill factor will make it seem like the mid-20s Jan. 13 and 14. The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of an ice storm on Jan. 17.
Vegetable growers near Yuma, AZ, will soon battle another round of lettuce ice and harvest delays. Daytime highs will be in the mid- to upper 50s Jan. 13-18 with overnight lows in the low to mid-30s. Outlying areas will see overnight lows in the mid-20s Jan. 14, 15 and 16. There is the possibility of a trace of snow on Jan. 13.
What can produce buyers do? Load your trucks now in advance of cold weather injury and market advances.
(Bill Armstrong is a self-employed produce broker who operates Armstrong Marketing in Salinas, CA. His Fresh Directions column appears in the Marketrack section of this web site every Wednesday afternoon/Thursday morning. He may be reached at ArmstrongMarketing@comc ast.net
