Temperatures dipping into mid-20s in Orange Belt

A cold air mass has moved into the Valley, dropping temperatures lower than expected.

The low Sunday night along the foothills in the Orange Belt was expected to be 30 degrees, but it is predicted to drop a degree or two lower over the next couple of nights.

The National Weather Service has put out a freeze warning for tonight, as it did for Sunday night.

The good news for most citrus growers is the low along the foothills will be slightly warmer.

While the lows for tonight through Thursday night in West Porterville are projected to be 27, 26, 29 and 31 degrees, the lows in East Porterville are forecast to be 29, 29, 30 and 30 degrees.

Temperatures below 28 degrees for more than four hours can damage citrus. However, with running water and wind machines, most growers can warm the air by at least a couple of degrees.

Lows Sunday morning were 30.6 degrees in East Porterville, 27 in West Lindsay, but 28.8 in East Lindsay and 27 in West Porterville, according to California Citrus Mutual.

Approximately 10 percent of the $500 million navel orange crop has been picked.