West Texas Cools Near Frost Levels; Quick Warming Likely
By Drew Lerner
Kansas City, October 21 (World Weather Inc.) – A cool airmass dropped into the southwestern Plains this morning dropping temperatures into the middle and upper 30s and lower 40s Fahrenheit across cotton, peanut, sorghum and corn production areas of West Texas. The cold stopped 
short of being damaging for the region and a quick rebound in temperatures this weekend next week will see to it that there is no negative impact on immature crops, especially cotton which needs more time for the late season bolls to mature before encountering freezing temperatures.
Low temperatures this morning in west Texas were cool enough in a few pockets for some patches of soft frost to develop. However, most temperatures were too warm to induce any permanent damage to crops in the region. The temperatures dropped most significantly in the last few hours before dawn limiting the amount of time for any frost to development.
Late season sorghum, cotton and peanuts were impacted by abundant rain in September slowing the maturation process. In the case of cotton, enough rain fell to set new bolls and producers are hoping to avoid frost and freeze conditions for at least another couple of weeks to give the late-set bolls a chance to mature enough for some increase in production.
Sometimes when temperatures turn cool and stay cool for an extended period of time boll lock can set in preventing late season cotton bolls from opening and that reduces production potential. However, this morning’s cold was a fluke in a mostly warmer than usual temperature bias that is expected to resume and continue for another ten days – at least. The quick rebound in temperatures this weekend will get afternoon temperatures back into the 80s Fahrenheit on a daily basis from Sunday through the end of next week and perhaps a little longer after that. Highs in the 80s with lows in the upper 40s and 50s will be warm enough to continue supporting cotton development and – at least for the next ten days – crops will continue to develop in a favorable manner.
Peanut harvesting in Texas was 25% complete as of Sunday. Most of the harvest had advanced in southern portions of both the High and Low Plains and in some areas in South Texas. Avoiding frost and freezes this morning helped protect the immature peanuts produced in northern areas. Peanut harvesting was behind the five year average of 38%.
Sorghum was 90% mature as of Sunday and would not have been seriously impacted by any frost that might have evolved this morning. Sorghum harvesting in Texas was 73% done compared to 72% average.
Corn harvesting in Texas was 80% done which is about normal for this time of year.
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