Frost damage on plants is prolonged exposure to frozen temperatures that causes the water inside the plant to freeze, rupturing the plant cells. It can occur in foothill vineyards in Spring and in Fall, and should be a consideration when choosing a vineyard location and appropriate varieties. Frost damage primarily damages young shoots or dormant buds. Permanent wood is not often impacted. In vineyards, protection from frost is typically in California is typically done with either by increasing airflow or using water as a temperature buffer.
Rick Snyder, UC Biometeorology Specialist, has extensive handouts and information that can be found on the UC Biometric Frost Protection Website.
Additionally, Rick has created training units, available in English and Spanish on the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources website. These trainings include: 1. Active frost protection using Water, 2. Active frost protection using Wind, 3. Passive Frost Protection, and 4. Methods of Measuring Temperature.
Current and forecasted weather can be found at National Weather Service Western Region Headquarters by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Using Wind Machines in Vineyards