Frost fans on early to beat cold snap
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Nervous grapegrowers were on standby as temperatures fell to unseasonably low levels overnight.
Climate Consulting climatologist Stu Powell said the coldest recorded temperature overnight was -0.6 degrees Celsius in the Wairau Valley with the Upper Awatere recording a low of -0.3C.
Rapaura escaped with the warmest low in the region, of 2.8C.
All other areas recorded lows of between 0.8C and 2C.
Frost at this stage of the year could damage the ability of the plants' fruit to ripen.
Francis Estate vineyard manager Polly Francis said three of the Ward company's four frost fans ran intermittently from 3.30am until 5.30am to combat the 1C ground temperature.
"We've never had this before so early on in the season," she said.
- The Marlborough Express
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Its probably because of man made emissions causing global warming ...!