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Calif. Citrus Crops Safe After Clouds Ward Off Freeze

EXETER (AP) — California's billion-dollar citrus crop is safe for another day after a predicted deep freeze failed to bring temperatures down far enough to cause damage.

California Citrus Mutual president Joel Nielsen says clouds that rolled in after midnight Thursday raised temperatures 2 to 3 degrees, warding off a devastating frost.

Citrus damage can occur when temperatures fall to 28 degrees for four hours or longer.

Nielsen says parts of the Central Valley citrus belt saw 27-degree temperatures Wednesday night but for no longer than an hour.

He says farmers mostly did not need to run wind machines, which draw down slightly warmer air from above the groves.

A freeze warning remains in effect through Friday morning.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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