Frost and Freeze in Florida, December 30 to 31, 2000

Widespread freezing temperatures were observed across most of West Central and Southwest Florida during the late evening of December 30th through the mid-morning hours of December 31st, 2000.Low temperatures in Levy county dropped from the upper teens to lower 20s with durations below freezing for up to thirteen hours.In Citrus, Sumter, Hernando and Pasco counties, low temperatures dropped into the middle 20s and remained below freezing for nine to twelve hours.In Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, De Soto and Highlands counties, low temperatures dropped into the middle 20s to upper 20s and remained below freezing for durations of six to nine hours. In Manatee and Hillsborough counties, freezing temperatures may have caused an estimated two million dollars worth of damage to the tropical fish industry. Also, the freeze caused minor to moderate damage to the tomato and strawberry crops of Hillsborough county.In eastern Charlotte, eastern Lee and extreme northern Pinellas counties, temperatures dropped into the lower 30s and remained below freezing for periods of two to five hours. The freeze caused an estimated 25 to 50 percent damage to tomato, pepper and squash crops in Lee and Charlotte counties.