Throughout the Southeast United States, bitter cold arctic air moved down from the north this week, threatening people and crops.
A hard freeze warning was issued throughout much of Alabama, Florida, and parts of Georgia for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. A hard freeze means temperatures 25 degrees Fahrenheit or under will be in effect for five hours or more.
For homeless people in the South, the National Weather Service says the frigid temperatures across the South pose a risk to their lives if they don’t get inside. Temperatures do get this cold across the South but usually do not stick around for more than a day. Forecasts say the temperatures might stay this low for 11 days in a row.
Dan Johnson of the Salvation Army in Birmingham said more homeless people are taking shelter because of the cold and there’s not enough space for people to sleep. “We have people sleeping all over the building,” he said.
Johnson said the Salvation Army has “extra mats, extra hallways, the TV rooms” open for homeless people. “We don’t turn anybody down on cold nights like this,” he added. Homeless people seeking refuge also are able to go to a local theater, which opened its doors for the interim, said Johnson.
In Birmingham, Ala., temperatures got as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, with the forecast going down to as low as 7 degrees on Saturday. There is a “more than likely” chance the temperature will get down to 0 degrees after wind chill kicks in this weekend, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mary Keiser to the Birmingham News.
In Florida, extended cold weather is disastrous for the state’s agriculture industry, especially citrus, beans, squash, strawberries, and other winter crops. Tuesday was one of the coldest nights in recent memory, said industry newspaper The Packer. Farmers have been scrambling to save citrus and strawberry crops as overnight temperatures dipped to 24 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Tuesday, Florida Governor Charlie Crist ordered a state of emergency to “ensure that timely precautions are taken to protect Florida’s agricultural crops and citrus,” said a press release from the Florida governor’s office.
The executive order, which expires Jan. 18, grants growers and shippers the ability to quickly harvest and transport their crops.
A hard freeze warning was issued throughout much of Alabama, Florida, and parts of Georgia for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. A hard freeze means temperatures 25 degrees Fahrenheit or under will be in effect for five hours or more.
For homeless people in the South, the National Weather Service says the frigid temperatures across the South pose a risk to their lives if they don’t get inside. Temperatures do get this cold across the South but usually do not stick around for more than a day. Forecasts say the temperatures might stay this low for 11 days in a row.
Dan Johnson of the Salvation Army in Birmingham said more homeless people are taking shelter because of the cold and there’s not enough space for people to sleep. “We have people sleeping all over the building,” he said.
Johnson said the Salvation Army has “extra mats, extra hallways, the TV rooms” open for homeless people. “We don’t turn anybody down on cold nights like this,” he added. Homeless people seeking refuge also are able to go to a local theater, which opened its doors for the interim, said Johnson.
In Birmingham, Ala., temperatures got as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, with the forecast going down to as low as 7 degrees on Saturday. There is a “more than likely” chance the temperature will get down to 0 degrees after wind chill kicks in this weekend, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mary Keiser to the Birmingham News.
In Florida, extended cold weather is disastrous for the state’s agriculture industry, especially citrus, beans, squash, strawberries, and other winter crops. Tuesday was one of the coldest nights in recent memory, said industry newspaper The Packer. Farmers have been scrambling to save citrus and strawberry crops as overnight temperatures dipped to 24 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Tuesday, Florida Governor Charlie Crist ordered a state of emergency to “ensure that timely precautions are taken to protect Florida’s agricultural crops and citrus,” said a press release from the Florida governor’s office.
The executive order, which expires Jan. 18, grants growers and shippers the ability to quickly harvest and transport their crops.
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