Published: October 10, 2009 07:44 am      

Early frost could have big consequences

Near freezing to freezing temperatures are expected tonight with a possibility drizzle, causing homeowners with tender plants and a few area farmers consternation.

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Norman said a reinforcing “shot of cool air” is coming from Wyoming, creating the colder temperatures.

“We could get close to freezing and remain there all night,” said NWS meteorologist Scott Curl, noting, “it will affect all of Northwest Oklahoma.”

With the approaching weather, “the biggest thing right now is to save tender vegetation, like flowers,” Curl said. “Bring them inside if you want to save them. Otherwise, they could be lost by Sunday morning.”

Woodward County and City Emergency Management Director Matt Lehenbauer could not rule out a light freeze in the Woodward County area and “a little west of us.”

The temperature tonight is expected to dip down to 33 degrees for the low, he said, noting the prediction was only a degree above freezing.

It could “easily drop” to freezing temperatures, he said.

“If we get precipitation .... it will be drizzle,” he said.

He noted that Woodward already received 1.11 inches of rain on Thursday, with Seiling registering as much as 2.47 inches.

“That brings us in Woodward to 1.15 inches for the month and a little over 16 inches for the year,” he said.

The average for the year is 23 inches.

“We’re now in our fall season where we normally get rain,” but it’s a “little early” for a freeze, he said.

Dana Bay of the OSU Extension Office in Woodward County also said it would “be a little early for us,” but if it does freeze, it won’t hurt the wheat.

“Where we would see some problems is in the sorghum grain that hasn’t been harvested yet,” Bay said. “It’ll kill the leaves.”

She provided information about sorghum which said under certain conditions, sorghums are capable of releasing hydrocyanic acid or prussic acid, if exposed to freeze damage.

Prussic acid, when digested by cattle, causes the animals to die by blocking their cells from utilizing oxygen.

“The animal dies from asphyxiation at the cellular level,” the information said.

While sorghums caught in a freeze can't be harvested, plants surrounding the home can still be saved.

Jason Covalt, owner of J.W.s Nursery and Landscaping in Woodward, said tropical plants in pots can be brought inside.

Plants “in the ground need to be well watered,” Covalt said. “A wet freeze is better than a dry freeze anytime. Some people like to cover their plants with plastic, which will protect annuals, but appropriate moisture is the key thing.”

“If they don’t have room to bring plants inside, moving them to the south side of the building will buy a little time,” he said.

He also noted it was “kind of unusual” to have a freeze this time of year, noting "it’s kind of early.”

But, he said, “it’s a great time to plant trees and shrubs.”

“It’s easier on them when they’re planted in the fall,” he said. “That’s when their roots grow.”