--- title: Heat wave gives farmers a scare with this year’s pumpkin crop description: A September heatwave has some farmers in California scrambling to save their prized pumpkins. image: https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/GettyPumpkins.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/heatwave-gives-farmers-a-scare-with-this-years-pumpkin-crop#main-content) [![accuweather-business-white-01](https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/Website/accuweather-business-white-01.svg "accuweather-business-white-01")](https://afb.accuweather.com/) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) Learn & Support [Overview](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) [![accu-winter-events](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/accu-winter-events.jpg?width=90&height=90&name=accu-winter-events.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/webinar-winter-risk-mitigation-services) Webinar [Take the Worry out of Winter: Risk Mitigation](https://afb.accuweather.com/webinar-winter-risk-mitigation-services) [![accu-hurricane-events](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/accu-hurricane-events.jpg?width=90&height=90&name=accu-hurricane-events.jpg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/hurricane-relief-tips-how-your-business-can-help-without-becoming-a-victim) Blog [How your business can help without becoming a victim](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/hurricane-relief-tips-how-your-business-can-help-without-becoming-a-victim) - [Let's Get Started](https://afb.accuweather.com/lets-get-started) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) [Home](https://afb.accuweather.com/)  /  [Retail](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/tag/retail)  /  [Education](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/tag/education)  /  [Historical](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/tag/historical) # Heat wave gives farmers a scare with this year’s pumpkin crop Posted by [Adrianne Burke](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/author/adrianne-burke) on Sep 13, 2022 ![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GettyPumpkins.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=GettyPumpkins.jpg) Summary ## A September heat wave has some farmers in California scrambling to save their prized pumpkins. Key Highlights #### AccuWeather meteorologists accurately forecast a heat wave for parts of the west #### Temperatures in California topped 10-25 degrees above normal earlier this month #### Farmers turn to past experiences to identify ways to salvage pumpkin crop **HEAT WAVE THREATENS HALLOWEEN HARVEST** Pumpkins are a holiday staple for Halloween, and the extreme heatwave that hit California in September has farmers looking for ways to avoid a significant crop loss as they saw as a result of extreme temperatures last summer. Temperatures in California topped 10-25 degrees above normal over Labor Day weekend, with some parts out West reaching into the triple digits. Pumpkins are sensitive to intense heat and can be sunburned. The crop can become mush if farmers don’t take precautions leading to devastating losses.     Farmers learned from last year’s heat wave and are working to protect pumpkins by allowing plant leaves to provide shade and protection from the brutal heat. They’re also adjusting the soil to help build up nutrients. Some other situations your business might encounter and need to prepare for because of intense heatwaves are:   - Severe pollution could cause air travel delays and shipment disruptions.  - Heat-related illnesses for those that work outdoors.  - The negative impact on job performance indoors and outdoors because of outdoor air quality concerns.  Extreme weather is the new normal. Intense heat waves and severe weather can impact energy demand, consumer buying behavior, labor scheduling, and other essential tasks you manage every day. AccuWeather for Business's [historical data](https://afb.accuweather.com/historical-data-1) can help your business win against mother nature. Download a free sample today!   ## Want to take our data for a test drive?  ### Fill out this form and we will send you a free sample. ## The latest from AccuWeather For Business [![eye path for tropical storm nicolas](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/eye-1.jpeg?width=506&height=265&name=eye-1.jpeg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/nicholas-takes-aim-at-texas) ### [Nicholas takes aim at Texas](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/nicholas-takes-aim-at-texas) A Flood of Trouble A hurricane watch is in effect from Port Arkansas to Sargent and a tropical... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/nicholas-takes-aim-at-texas) --- 1 minute read • Sep 13, 2021 [![Henri eye storm path](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/henri%20eye.jpeg?width=506&height=265&name=henri%20eye.jpeg)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/henri-takes-aim-at-new-england) ### [Henri takes aim at New England](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/henri-takes-aim-at-new-england) Henri making history For the 1st time in nearly 30 years, New England is preparing for a direct hit... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/henri-takes-aim-at-new-england) --- 1 minute read • Aug 20, 2021 [![](https://afb.accuweather.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-23%20at%206.41.23%20AM.png?width=506&height=265&name=Screen%20Shot%202022-09-23%20at%206.41.23%20AM.png)](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/developing-tropical-system-could-impact-gulf-coast-next-week) ### [Developing tropical system could impact Gulf Coast next week](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/developing-tropical-system-could-impact-gulf-coast-next-week) Tropical Depression 9 Threatens Accuweather meteorologists are closely monitoring Tropical... [Read More](https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/developing-tropical-system-could-impact-gulf-coast-next-week) --- 2 minute read • Sep 23, 2022 ## Want our stories delivered straight to you? Subscribe to our blog today! [![accuweather-business-all-white](https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/Website/accuweather-business-all-white.svg "accuweather-business-all-white")](https://afb.accuweather.com/) AFB PORTAL [LOGIN](https://enterpriseportal-v2.accuweather.com/login.html) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AccuWeather/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accuweather-for-business/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/accuweather) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/accuweather/?hl=en) - [Learn & Support](https://afb.accuweather.com/learn-support) - [Case Studies](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/case-studies) - [Webinars](https://www.accuweather.com/en/blogs-webinars/welcome-to-accuweathers-webinar-hub/1692349) - [Press Releases](https://corporate.accuweather.com/newsroom/press-releases/) - [Blog](https://www.accuweather.com/en/news/blogs-webinars) © 2026 AccuWeather, Inc. - [AccuWeather.com](https://www.accuweather.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.accuweather.com/en/privacy) - [Terms of Use](https://www.accuweather.com/en/legal) - [Cookie Preferences](https://www.accuweather.com/en/cookiepolicy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Adrianne Burke", "url" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/author/adrianne-burke" }, "dateModified" : "2022-09-16T16:09:51.645Z", "datePublished" : "2022-09-13T20:31:21.000Z", "headline" : "Heat wave gives farmers a scare with this year’s pumpkin crop", "image" : [ "https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/GettyPumpkins.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/blog/heatwave-gives-farmers-a-scare-with-this-years-pumpkin-crop", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://afb.accuweather.com/hubfs/AW_Horiz_Transparent_Logo.png" }, "name" : "AccuWeather" } } ```