Frost and Freeze in Florida, February 4 to 6, 2009

An arctic airmass moved over the area behind a strong cold front and caused several days of freezing temperatures across the area. A strong northerly wind caused temperatures in the 20s to advect as far south as Sarasota, Desoto, and Highlands counties. Winds were near calm for the second night allowing for a radiational freeze across much of the area. Light easterly flow the third night allowed temperatures to moderate at most locations, with the nature coast still experiencing freezing temperatures.

Damage to crops varied widely depending on if fields had freeze protection equipment. Strawberries, blueberries, and citrus fared well if they had freeze protection. No monetary values were available as of April.

|Levy County: The cooperative observer near Chiefland was below freezing for 12 hours on the 5th and 6th, reaching a low of 19 degrees on the 5th and 18 degrees on the 6th.

Sumter County: The cooperative observer near Bushnell was below freezing for 8 hours on the 5th and 6th, recording a low of 24 degrees on the 5th and 21 degrees on the 6th.

Citrus County: The cooperative station near Inverness recorded a low of 25 degrees on the 5th and 20 degrees on the 6th.

Hernando County: The FAWN station near Brooksville was below freezing for an average of 11 hours on the 5th and 6th, recording a low of 23 degrees on the 5th and 18 degrees on the 6th.

Pasco County: The cooperative observer at Saint Leo College recorded a low of 27 degrees on the 5th and 30 degrees on the 6th.

Hillsborough County: The Vandenburg Airport was below freezing for an average of 9 hours on the 5th and 6th, recording a low of 28 degrees on the 5th and 27 degrees on the 6th.

Polk County: The cooperative station at the Lakeland Linder Airport recorded a low of 27 degrees on the 5th and 30 degrees on the 6th.

Manatee County: The cooperative station near Duette recorded a low of 27 degrees on the 5th and 26 degrees on the 6th.

Sarasota County: The cooperative station near Venice recorded a low of 29 degrees on the 5th. The FAWN station near North Port recorded a low of 27 degrees on the 6th.

Hardee County: The FAWN station near Ona was below freezing for 6 hours on the 5th and recorded a low of 26 degrees. The low was 31 degrees on the 6th.

Desoto County: The FAWN station near Arcadia was below freezing for an average of 5 hours on the 5th and the 6th, reaching a low of 26 degrees on the 5th and 31 degrees on the 6th.

Highlands County: The cooperative station near Avon Park recorded a low of 28 degrees on the 5th and 32 degrees on the 6th.

Charlotte County: The ASOS station in Punta Gorda was below freezing for 3 hours on the 5th and the 6th, reaching a low of 30 degrees on the 5th and 31 degrees on the 6th.

Lee County: The ASOS station at the Regional Southwest International Airport recorded a low of 31 degrees on the 5th. Freezing temperatures were not felt across the county on the 6th.