High winds and some snow touched the Plains area as temperatures dropped down in the 20s. Sorghum fields and cotton plants were cleaned up by the frost. High winds in Central areas increased Pecan drop. Now that November has arrived and December remains right around the corner, colder weather throughout Texas is imminent. The effects of freezing temperatures on commercial and industrial operations, especially those which involve activities in an outside environment, can be serious.
Agriculture is of course an area that experiences significant problems from freeze conditions.
Since vegetation is so highly sensitive to freeze temperatures, the classification of these temperatures is typically based on their effect on plants. At these temperatures, the ground freezes solid, with the depth of the frozen ground dependent on the duration and severity of the freeze, soil moisture, and soil type. The following map shows the average dates of occurrence of the first 32F freeze in the fall throughout Texas. This year, the Panhandle, along with much of North and West Texas, received their first freeze in October. For a listing of other OSC publications, click here.