SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Very cold mornings are expected through Sunday in Northern California.
Cold air and clear skies have moved in behind the latest storm system to hit the state. Temperatures near freezing and possibly below are expected Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, but Sunday is expected to be the coldest of the three. A low of 34 is forecast for Sunday morning in Sacramento.
The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for 4 a.m. Friday through 9 a.m. Sunday for the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley.
The spring bloom is finally underway, experiencing a bit of delay this year due to the cooler and wetter winter conditions that have dominated for months. The potential freeze could result in damage to vegetation, especially to the numerous orchards in the Central Valley.
"This time of year fruit plants need to get to 30 degrees or lower to cause damage to most fruit trees," the National Weather Service said in their morning forecast discussion for Sacramento. "Pear, plum, peach, prunes and cherries need to be at 30 degrees for at least 30 minutes to cause damage. The best chances to reach that will be over the foothills."
It takes several hours for the symptoms to develop. As frozen tissues thaw, they turn brown or black if they were damaged or killed by the cold, revealing the extent of the damage, according to Michigan State University.
Temperatures will drop quickly due to a lack of cloud cover and cold air already in place. Cloud cover at night traps radiation emitted from the surface from escaping to space, keeping temperatures warmer.
There is potential for some cloud cover and northerly winds on Saturday which would help to moderate morning low temperatures. Take measures to protect sensitive plants and bring pets indoors the next few nights.
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