Florida Freeze Feeds Futures Frenzy Orange Juice Prices Increase on Record Cold

For other record temperature posts, see:
Record Heat
Record Cold

The cold Arctic outbreak dominating much of the U.S. has driven up orange juice prices as freezing temperatures in Florida have threatened the crop near harvest time. Prices surged on Monday by 10 cents (7.8%) to reach the daily trading limit. The Wall Street Journal reported late this afternoon, however,

Despite moving sharply higher in early trading after gaining 12% over the previous two sessions, orange juice futures finished marginally lower Wednesday. Market participants took heart in the fact that crop damage overnight appeared to be minimal, as temperatures in the heart of the citrus belt remained just above critical levels. Citrus fruit sustains damage when readings dip below 28 F for three or more hours.

Several daily temperature records have been broken or tied across the state. For Wednesday, January 6:

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 35 DEGREES WAS SET AT NAPLES TODAY.   
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 35 SET IN 1999.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 34 DEGREES WAS SET AT WEST PALM BEACH   
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 37 SET IN 1967.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 40 DEGREES WAS TIED AT MIAMI TODAY. THIS   
TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 40 SET IN 1919.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES WAS SET AT  
LAKELAND THIS MORNING. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD   
OF 35 SET BACK IN 1985 AND 1980.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 34 DEGREES WAS SET AT FORT MYERS TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 36 SET IN 1956.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 27 DEGREES WAS SET AT TAMPA TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 30 SET IN 1999.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES WAS SET AT VERO BEACH TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 32 SET IN 1999.  
  
ALSO...A RECORD COOL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 55 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
[VERO BEACH] TODAY.  THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 62 SET IN 1969.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES WAS SET AT DAYTONA BEACH   
THIS MORNING. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 30 SET IN 1999.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 31 DEGREES WAS SET AT ORLANDO TODAY.   
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 31 SET IN 1999.  
  
ALSO...A RECORD COOL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
ORLANDO TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 57 SET IN 1980.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 27 DEGREES WAS SET AT MELBOURNE THIS   
MORNING. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 31 SET IN 1999.  
  
ALSO...A RECORD COOL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 52 DEGREES WAS SET   
AT MELBOURNE TODAY...JANUARY 6 2010. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF   
57 SET IN 1980.  

THE MORNING LOW TODAY WAS 21 DEGREES AT THE JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL  
AIRPORT. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 21 DEGREES SET IN 1884.  

A RECORD FOR THE DAILY LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN KEY WEST WILL BE LIKELY TODAY 
AS THE TEMPERATURE STRUGGLES TO HOVER AROUND 55 DEGREES 

For Tuesday, January 5:

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT NAPLES ONLY REACHED 55 DEGREES TODAY. THIS   
BREAKS THE RECORD FOR THE COOLEST MAXIMUM TEMP OF 56 DEGREES SET   
BACK IN 2002.  

A RECORD COOL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 50 DEGREES WAS SET AT MELBOURNE   
YESTERDAY...JANUARY [5]. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 51 SET IN   
1981.  

A RECORD COOL MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 52 DEGREES WAS SET AT VERO   
BEACH YESTERDAY JANUARY 5. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 52 SET IN   
1999.  

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY OF 47 DEGREES [AT ORLANDO] WAS A RECORD COOL   
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR JANUARY 5 2010. THE OLD RECORD OF 48 WAS SET   
IN 1999.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 26 DEGREES WAS SET AT APALACHICOLA TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 27 SET IN 2002.  

For Monday, January 4:

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 26 DEGREES WAS SET AT BRUNSWICK [GA] TODAY.   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 27 SET IN 1979.  

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 26 DEGREES WAS SET AT APALACHICOLA   
YESTERDAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 26 SET IN 2002.