Trees are seeing the effects of insufficient chilling hours over the last two years and a wet winter could help that problem.
El Nino Could Help Winter Chill
California crops that rely on chilling hours during the winter months saw an unusual occurrence of back-to-back low chill winters. Cooperative Extension Tree Crop Advisor Katherine Pope says it is highly unlikely to see that extend to three consecutive winters. Many are speculating what El Nino weather could bring in the next several months. Pope says, of course, they can’t predict the temperatures this winter, but an increase in moisture could raise the frequency of fog, an integral part of trees meeting winter chill requirements.