Chilton County Peaches in Danger

Earlier this morning on Good Morning Alabama, Thorsby Mayor Tom Bentley joined us for an interview about the dangerous situation that Chilton County’s peach crop will get into with the freezing weather this weekend. Here are some of the main points he discussed:

*The winter and spring seasons were perfect this year, and they were expecting the best crop in years. Now, it looks like it could be a total loss if the freezing temperatures do occur.

*If it is just 30 degrees for a few minutes, the entire crop could be severely damaged.

*Chilton County leaders have asked the National Guard for helicopters to hover over the orchards, but they are not expecting that request to be fulfilled. (Helicopters hovering over the peaches would keep the air stirring in hopes of mixing warmer air aloft back down to the ground, keeping the peaches above freezing)

*Even if helicopters did come in, and even if they do use smudge pots to help raise the temperature, there are no guarantees that even those measures would save the crop.

*Chilton County has petitioned Governor Riley to declare them a disaster area so they can get some help with the three to five million dollars that the area would lose if the crop is destroyed.

*In 1973, one sub-freezing night destroyed the entire crop. With three nights of freezing temperatures expected, and at least one hard freeze during the weekend, the outlook is very bleak for the peach crop this year.

If our computer guidance is anywhere close to the real-world scenario that will set up this weekend, here’s what Thorsby’s temperatures should look like:

(NAM Forecast for Shelby Co. Airport, 20 miles north of Thorsby)
Hi/Lo
Saturday: 51/28
Sunday: 53/24

Models are NOT the official forecast, but that gives you an idea as to the kind of data we are looking at to back up the freezing cold forecast.

Category: Uncategorized