A moderate La Niña climate phase is expected through spring 2021. This indicates that slightly above average temperatures and slightly less rainfall than normal can be expected in Florida’s citrus belt. Multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo made that announcement during a virtual Dec. 22 OJ Break presented by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
The fact that the winter weather pattern is expected to be warmer than usual doesn’t rule out the possibility of a citrus freeze. Paolillo said a freeze can occur any winter, regardless of the climate phase.
La Niña is one of three climate phases that are part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern. Others are El Niño, during which colder and wetter conditions are expected in Florida, and neutral, when conditions are neither El Niño nor La Niña.
Read the full article on CitrusIndustry.