Freeze forecast for most of Georgia

Bundle up: the outlook for this midtown Atlanta skyline, as for much of the state is for clear - and very cold - temperatures overnight. (Dave Bender)

Freezing temperatures are expected over most of Georgia as a blast of cold air from Canada makes its way into the state.

The National Weather Service says temperatures Tuesday night and early Wednesday are expected to range from the upper teens in far north Georgia to the upper 20s and mid 30s near the coast.

Freezing temperatures also were forecast for tonight in much of north and central Georgia. The NWS forecasts a hard freeze for the southwest part of the state:

"A HARD FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM
MIDNIGHT  TONIGHT TO 9 AM EST WEDNESDAY. A FREEZE
WATCH REMAINS  IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY
NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY  MORNING.

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO
THE  AREA TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL RAPIDLY
AFTER  SUNSET. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO REACH
THE FREEZING  MARK AFTER MIDNIGHT...WITH
DURATIONS  OF 5 TO 7 HOURS OF  SUB-FREEZING
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED.  ADDITIONALLY... A HARD
FREEZE IS FORECAST FOR SEVERAL  HOURS TOWARDS
DAYBREAK WITH TEMPERATURES BOTTOMING
OUT BETWEEN  25 AND 27 DEGREES.

ANOTHER FREEZE EVENT IS FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
WITH TEMPERATURES BOTTOMING OUT BETWEEN
28 AND 32 DEGREES... COLDEST ACROSS THE SUWANNEE
VALLEY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA." 

The NWS predicts a gradual warming trend through the week. By Saturday, the forecast calls for lows in the 20s and 30s in north Georgia to the 40s in the south, followed by daytime highs from the upper 40s to about 70 in parts of south Georgia.

Maps and details of the areas expected to be affected are here: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/

Click here for more GPB News coverage of statewide weather events.

(AP)

Georgia's Agruculture Economy Overview

Agriculture experts from the University of Georgia met with local farmers to discuss the industries outlook for the upcoming year. Crops across the board, such as corn, pecans, soybeans, and peanuts are selling at an all time high. But, the drought has wiped out Georgia’s livestock feed, and fuels costs have tripled. John McKissick, an agriculture economist from the University of Georgia said livestock farmers aren’t as lucky as crop farmers.

“Beef cattle producers are faced with rising costs from the energy side, yet their selling prices aren’t going up, in fact their's is going down some,” said McKissick.

According to the University of Georgia's Department of Agriculture, Georgian agribusiness brought in $2.5 billion dollars last year, even with the slump in landscaping and livestock profits.

Irvin says drought worst he's ever seen

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin says the state's dry weather conditions are the worst he's ever seen in his 38 years of running the department.

Irvin says there have been longer and harsher droughts in past years, but that he can't remember dry conditions starting this early.

With extreme drought conditions in 33 of 159 Georgia counties, state crops are at risk. The 50-billion dollar industry in Georgia made up of apples, peaches and other crops are in bad shape. Without a sharp increase in rainfall in the next few months, some farmers are poised to lose their entire harvests.