HDR1012000170100218981200WEEKLY WEATHER AND CROP BULLETIN Released February 18, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Rhonda Brandt 202-720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 7 February 8-14, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Another four storms moved ashore on the West Coast, causing additional flooding and fieldwork delays in California. The first of the four systems also delivered heavy precipitation--mostly rain--from the western Gulf Coast to Lake Michigan. The last storm affected southern Texas at week's end, easing recent dryness but delaying spring fieldwork. Most of the Southeast received only light precipitation, allowing for recovery from recent weeks' downpours. Dry spells continued on the northern Plains (4 months) and in Hawaii (more than 3 months). Very mild weather continued across the North for the fourth consecutive week, as weekly departures ranged from +3 to +17 degrees F. In contrast, readings averaged as much as 3 degrees F below normal in California and Florida. More than a half-dozen daily-record highs were scattered across the North during the week, including 46 degrees F in International Falls, MN on Sunday, 54 degrees F in Youngstown, OH on Wednesday, and 49 degrees F in Glasgow, MT on Saturday. Near- to above-normal temperatures also prevailed in Alaska (departures from -2 to 10 degrees F) and Hawaii (-1 to +2 degrees F), where warmth exacerbated already dry conditions. On Thursday, Kahului's high of 89 degrees F tied their February record set in 1961. From November 1, 1997, to February 14, 1998, rainfall was only 42 percent (%) of normal in Hilo and 20% in Honolulu. Less than a quarter-inch (1% of normal) of rain fell in Hilo during the first 45 days of 1998. In Alaska, Juneau notched three consecutive daily records from February 10-12 (47, 43, and 46 degrees F, respectively). By week's end, streaks of above-normal temperatures stretched to 31 consecutive days in LaCrosse, WI, 27 days in Des Moines, IA, and 26 days in Indianapolis, IN. Although a 22-day run of above-normal temperatures ended on Saturday in Buffalo, NY, Lake Erie remained totally ice-free into mid-February for only the fifth time on record. The lake eventually froze in 1932 and 1950, but remained unfrozen in 1953 and 1983. On Monday, Goodland, KS netted a daily-record precipitation total (0.53 inch, including 0.4 inch of snow). A day later, Little Rock, AR (3.06 inches) noted a daily-record total. Heavy rain continued through Wednesday in the Midwest, where Columbia, MO (1.44 inches) and Peoria, IL (1.40 inches) logged daily records. With a 1.14-inch rainfall on the 11th, Moline, IL received a February- record, single-day total. Farther east, soils remained saturated in the Southeast despite a break from heavy rainfall. In Roanoke, VA, more rain fell during the first 48 days of this year (more than 14 inches) than during the first 167 days of 1997 (through June 16). Meanwhile in Brownsville, TX, 1.17 inches of rain fell on Saturday, topping their precipitation total (0.99 inch; 29% of normal) during the previous 75 days (since December 1, 1997). Along the West Coast, the series of storms generated high winds and heavy surf. In Oregon, wind gusts on Cape Blanco were clocked at 82 mph on Sunday, 83 mph on Tuesday, and 86 mph on Thursday. In central California, the month's first-half rainfall in San Jose was 7.77 inches, toppling their former February record of 7.02 inches, set in 1915. Downtown San Francisco's month-to-date rainfall reached 10.72 inches by week's end, second only to a 12.52-inch total in 1878. By mid-February, season-to-date rainfall ranged from 150 to 250% of normal statewide, up from 100 to 200% at the end of January. The water content of the Sierra Nevada snowpack stood at 34 inches (155% of normal) on February 15, up from 20 inches (107%) at the end of January and 9 inches (74%) on January 1, 1998. Heavy precipitation also fell in the Southwest, including heavy snow in the mountains. On Arizona's Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson, 24-hour snowfalls totaled 20 inches on February 8-9 and 14 inches on February 14-15, boosting their snow depth to 74 inches. National Agricultural Summary February 9-15, 1998 HIGHLIGHTS Temperatures were near normal across the South but unseasonably high for this time of the year elsewhere across the United States. In the northern High Plains, where very little precipitation has fallen since early October, temperatures were as much as 15 degrees above normal. Wet snow and rain fell in the central Plains, increasing soil moisture supplies in winter wheat fields. Some snow fell in the Texas plains but was minimally beneficial to the winter wheat crop. Corn and sorghum planting was just underway in southern Texas, but soggy soils hindered progress. Rainfall caused wet soils in the Delta and Missouri, and light precipitation fell in the Corn Belt. While the Southeast received a break from recent downpours, the Pacific coast remained wet. Fieldwork in California continued to be delayed as stormy weather caused heavy rains, strong winds, and saturated soils. Several thousand acres of small grains were lost due to severe lodging and standing water. Farmers were busy pumping water out of other crop fields. Citrus harvest was delayed. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on February 24, 1998. 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