Yakima Valley, WA

Yakima Valley fruit growers in Washington state have face a round of freezing temperatures this week. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a hard freeze warning for a wide region of southcentral Washington and northeast Oregon for temperatures dropping into the low 20s in the coldest spots.A grower in the region noted that Tuesday nights temperatures did get down to levels that could possibly cause some damage in some of the company's orchards in the south eastern part of Washington State. Growers worked through the night in preparation for the freezing conditions. Temperatures did not get as low in our orchards in central Washington area, but some of our early cherry districts experienced temperatures that may end up having an effect on the crop.

Currently, apples are not in as vulnerable of a state right now and growers believe that they will not be affected. Cherries are further along so at this point they are much more susceptible to the cold temperatures.

At this point it is hard to tell how much damage was caused, the grower told AndNowUKnow.

The advisory remained in effect until Wednesday morning. The hard freeze warning affected the Yakima Valley, southern Columbia Basin, Walla Walla areas in Washington state and Boardman, Hermiston and Pendleton areas in northeast Oregon, according to the Yakima Herald. The report noted that the cold air mass would be replaced Wednesday by a high-pressure system that could keep overnight low temperatures in the low 40s into the weekend.

Washington State Hard Freeze