The Third Major Impact Freeze  – 1962

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When conditions are favorable an arctic air mass can travel quickly south.  A high-pressure system in the West (winds moving clockwise) and low-pressure system in the East (winds moving counter clockwise) funnels the cold air southward.  This was the scenario in December 1962.   Warren Johnson, long time director of the Agricultural Weather Service in Florida, warned growers an ‘Alberta Clipper’ was headed their way!  The air mass developed in the Canadian province starting December 9, 1962 before being sucked into a large high pressure system plunging southward.  The ominous forecast of December 12 warned the industry of impending disaster.  The freeze of 1962 was an advective event which means it was windy as cold air rapidly moved into the state.  Temperatures dropped to the lower teens and upper twenties in Central Florida – Deland 18F, Umatilla 16F, Groveland 18F, Lakeland 20F!

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This was the most destructive freeze since 1894/95.  The state imposed an embargo on the shipments of fresh fruit and enacted strong inspections at juice plants to make sure spoiled fruit was not processed.  The federal government stepped in with low interest loans.

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There was some good news as the cold air mass did not completely move through the state.  Citrus in the southern most areas did not suffer much tree damage.  However, the rest of the citrus areas were forced to prune tress heavily for large limbs (up to 5 inches were killed)!  A number of growers ‘moved’ to South Florida after the freeze looking for warmer locations to produce citrus.

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The heavy pruning of older trees after the freeze in 1962 actually produced abundant new growth which was closer to the ground!  The smaller trees had heavy foliage and produced a record crop of fruit by 1966!  Growers observed the positive impact of pruning and the advantage of producing fruit closer to the ground.  After 1962 growers started routine pruning to control tree size!