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Floods - Somalia, Ethiopia,
Kenya
Typhoon Durian - Philippines,
Vietnam
Ice storm/blizzard - United States,
Canada
Cold wave - United States
Winter storm - Europe
Tornado outbreak - United States
Floods - Mozambique
Other events
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Catastrophe Report 11
November 8th 2006 - March 5th 2007 - Bill McGuire |
Cold wave - United States
| Territory: |
|
United States |
| Region: |
|
California, Oregon and Washington |
| Date: |
|
13 – 18 January 2007 |
| Event: |
|
Cold wave |
| Impact: |
|
The freezing conditions had a major impact on
the Californian citrus crop, particularly in the San Joaquin
valley, which is the largest citrus-growing region in the country.
Crops of strawberries, avocados, and cut-flowers were all badly
affected, but lemon and orange trees were worst affected, leading
to an estimated 75 percent of the nation’s citrus crop
being destroyed, and mass redundancies in the industry. Wholesale
citrus prices tripled overnight, while prices to the consumer
rose by 100 percent or more. The loss of several million gallons
of juice is expected to raise these prices by a similar amount.
Gross losses are estimated at between US$800 million and US$1
billion, resulting in Governor Schwarzenegger requesting federal
disaster aid. |
| Summary: |
|
Simultaneously with ice storms and blizzards
affecting most the rest of the country, an exceptional cold
wave struck the western states. Unusually mild weather in the
region was rapidly displaced on 13 January as an Arctic low
pressure system brought freezing conditions and snow across
Washington State and Oregon and into California. Record snowfall
was recorded in Oregon and Washington State, with temperatures
in Seattle falling to more than minus 8 degrees C on the 14th.
On the same day in California, records were smashed as temperatures
in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego fell to 2 degree C, in
Los Banos (Merced County) to minus 6 degrees C, and in the high
desert city of Lancaster, to minus 16 degrees C. On the 17th,
snow fell in Malibu and West Los Angeles. |
| Data sources: |
|
Produce News
http://www.producenews.com/storydetail.cfm?ID=6625
CNN
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS/701180400/1001/RSS02&source=RSS
|
| Additional sources:
|
|
International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/18/business/citrus.php
|
| Image: |
|
Couldn’t find a copyright-free image, but
there are quite a few showing ice-covered oranges on the web.
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