Weather reports called for a hard freeze throughout California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV) on Christmas night. Fortunately for valley citrus growers, cold temperatures failed to drop below critical lows, according to California Citrus Mutual (CCM).  

Weather stations reported temperatures hovered in the low 30s and upper 20s in some areas, which most citrus varieties can withstand with protection by water and wind machines. More importantly, durations at these low temperatures were very short.  

Some areas of Kern County reported low temperatures in the 40s, far from the forecasted hard freeze.

Overall, CCM says conditions were ideal on Christmas night for the SJV citrus crop.