Georgia’s recent abnormally cold weather has been good for its developing peach and blueberry crops. But a warm spell now could cause blooms to emerge too soon.

GEORGIA peach trees have already received plenty of chill hours. Any extended warm weather now may lead them to bloom early. This puts them, and early-maturing blueberries, in danger from a late-spring freeze. (Photo courtesy of UGA.)

Because of the extended cold spell, chill hours, or hours below 45 degrees, have accumulated rapidly across the state. Peaches and blueberries, two major crops for the state, need a certain amount of these hours during their dormancy in winter to perform well during the growing season.

Chill hours are in excess of 800 across much of middle and south Georgia. This means many varieties of peaches and blueberries have reached or are near the number of chill hours needed to break their dormancy.

Any extended period of temperatures in the 70s now could result in blueberries and peaches flowering. If early flowering occurs, peaches and blueberries will be very susceptible to a damaging late winter or spring freeze.

Producers are encouraged to take appropriate action to protect their crops from a possible freeze.

In other weather-related news, agricultural fields are expected to remain near saturation through March. Late winter and spring field work is expected to be delayed.

The wet soils mean that flood risk is enhanced statewide.

The current El Niño winter pattern is expected to continue with below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation through March.

It is not unusual for an extended dry period to follow an El Niño winter, with the dryness beginning mid-spring.

Up-to-date weather information, including chill hours, may be found at http://www.georgiaweather.net.

EDITOR’S NOTE — David Stooksbury is the state climatologist, a professor of engineering and graduate coordinator for atmospheric sciences in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)