HDR1012000170100228951200WEEKLY WEATHER & CROP BULLETIN HDR2012000170100228951200NAT. AGRI. SUMMARY NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY February 20 - 26, 1995 HIGHLIGHTS: Wheat broke dormancy and is greening up rapidly from the southern to the central Great Plains. The recent warm weather and moisture caused the winter wheat to lose cold hardiness and to green quickly. Wheat across the Nation has wintered well so far, with wheat condition generally reported as mostly good to fair. Temperatures well above normal have depleted most of the snow cover in the Northern States. In the Midwest, the warm weather and lack of significant precipitation allowed farmers to begin tilling and topdressing of winter wheat. Late-week rain in the middle Mississippi Valley helped activate recently applied top-dressed fertilizer. Rains in the Ohio Valley have left fields too muddy for farm equipment. In the Southeastern States, land preparation and fertilizer application were active in dried fields. Peaches were reported to have started to bloom in Georgia. Irrigation of small grains in Texas continued where most dryland fields showed little growth and remained in need of moisture. Rain in the Southwestern States again slowed field preparation, but farmers continue to prepare for spring planting where possible. Drier conditions in California allowed field activities to gain headway. Row crop fields in California were sprayed with pre-plant herbicides, while small grains received aerial weed treatment. Rainstorms and blowing sand scarred some plant leaves and young fruit in south Florida's vegetable crop. HDR2012000170100228951200NAT. WEATHER SUMMARY National Weather Summary Volume 82, No. 9 February 19 - 25, 1995 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Incredible warmth encompassed the Western and Central States, setting or tying about 200 daily records and a dozen all-time February records. Temperatures averaged above normal virtually nationwide, with weekly departures reaching +23 degrees F in Havre, MT. Winter wheat broke dormancy in the central Plains, as highs rose into the 70's on February 20-22 and 25, and weekly temperatures averaged from the upper 40's to middle 50's. Average soil temperatures (4-inch depth) climbed to 50 degrees F into southern Kansas at Garden City and St. John, and to 40 degrees F into southern Nebraska at McCook and Lincoln. Farther north, Great Falls, MT recorded 63 degrees F on Sunday, 6 days after a low of -18 degrees F, and Spokane, WA registered a February-record of 63 degrees F on Monday, 6 days after a low of 2 degrees F. Early in the week, a high-pressure system over the Great Basin induced westerly (chinook) winds across the northern High Plains and easterly (Santa Ana) winds across southern California. On Sunday, San Diego, CA measured its first-ever 90-degree day in February, eclipsing the standard (89 degrees F) that had stood since February 24, 1921. A day later, the temperature hit 95 degrees F at Los Angeles (Civic Center), CA, breaking the record of 94 degrees F that was most recently attained earlier this month, on February 2 and 3. Farther north, the last in a series of storms moved ashore in western Washington, allowing river flooding to abate by midweek. Meanwhile, a front crossed southern Florida, igniting locally severe thunderstorms on Monday. Nearly 80 daily records were set or tied on Monday and Tuesday as warmth spread from the West into the northern and central Plains. On Monday, highs included 89 degrees F in Yuma, AZ and 79 degrees F in Las Vegas, NV. Santa Barbara, CA (85 degrees F) broke its daily record by 9 degrees F. A day later, the high of 74 degrees F in Norfolk, NE was a February record, 38 degrees F above the normal high for February 21. Other highs on Tuesday included 71 degrees F in Denver, CO and 62 degrees F in Huron, SD. The warmth and accompanying parade of records continued through week's end, briefly shifting into the Northwest before returning to the northern and central Plains. On Thursday, the high of 70 degrees F in Klamath Falls, OR was a February record, while the high of 66 degrees F in Burns, OR was their fifth consecutive daily record. February records were tied on Friday in Butte, MT (61 degrees F), Helena, MT (69 degrees F), and Rapid City, SD (75 degrees F). The high in Missoula, MT (66 degrees F) toppled a February record that had endured since February 14, 1921. On Saturday, daily records were set as far east as Springfield, IL (71 degrees F). Highs soared to 80 degrees F into Nebraska at Grand Island (a February record) and Hastings (tied a February record). Norfolk, NE (74 degrees F) tied its February record, established 4 days earlier. In contrast, temperatures plunged below normal across Alaska, with weekly departures to -15 degrees F. Along the Arctic coast, Barrow logged a low of - 47 degrees F on February 25. After Monday, organized precipitation was confined to the Northeast, Arizona, and south-central Texas. Local rainfall approached 1 inch in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday. Snowfall in northern Maine reached a half-foot on Friday. A day later in Michigan, a 9.5-inch snowfall at Negaunee pushed their monthly snowfall to 57.4 inches, a February record. Meanwhile, thunderstorms in Texas dumped more than an inch of rain in Austin and San Angelo.