Release February 17, 1999 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agricultural. For information on "Weekly Weather & Crop Bulletin" call Mark E. Miller at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 86, No. 7 February 7 - 13, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A late-week cold snap interrupted a month-long warm spell from the Rockies eastward, lowering temperatures to the freezing mark (32 degrees F) or below north of a line from central Louisiana to northern Florida (on February 14 and 15). The colder weather was mostly beneficial across the South, slowing the development of fruit trees and winter grains, but burning back some recent growth. Despite the cool-down, weekly temperatures generally ranged from 5 to 15 degrees F above normal across the eastern two-thirds of the Nation, resulting in more than 225 daily-record highs and nearly a dozen February-record highs. In contrast, cool weather persisted in parts of the West. Temperatures averaged as much as 6 degrees F below normal in northern and central California, accompanied by heavy precipitation. Although rain halted fieldwork in California's Central Valley, heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada further improved spring runoff prospects. Only light precipitation fell across the Southwest, however, maintaining unfavorably dry topsoils. Farther east, occasional rainfall kept soils wet and perpetuated lowland flooding in winter grain fields from the Ohio Valley southward to the Delta. Early in the week, record warmth overspread the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. On Monday, daily records included 87 degrees F in San Angelo, TX and 77 degrees F in Memphis, TN. Meanwhile, heavy precipitation fell in the West Coast States, trailed by sharply cooler weather. On Sunday, downtown Sacramento, CA netted 1.21 inches, a daily-record rainfall. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the water equivalent of the Sierra Nevada snow pack increased to 24 inches (110 percent of normal) at mid-month, up from 17 inches (90 percent) at the end of January. On Tuesday, Burns, OR noted their first of three consecutive daily-record lows (-4, -11, and -11 degrees F). A day later, Redding, CA (27 degrees F) posted a daily-record low. Elsewhere in California, San Luis Obispo (29 and 32 degrees F) and Santa Barbara (30 and 33 degrees F) closed the week with consecutive daily-record lows. Farther east, however, record warmth dominated areas in advance of a strong cold front. Record highs on February 9 included 62 degrees F in Salt Lake City, UT and 64 degrees F in Grand Junction, CO. On Wednesday, Lincoln, NE (75 degrees F) noted their earliest calendar-date occurrence of 75-degree warmth. Meanwhile, highs topped 80 degrees F as far north as Liberal, KS (81 degrees F). Nine cities in the Great Lakes region reported February-record highs on Thursday, including Indianapolis, IN (75 degrees F), Columbus, OH (74 degrees F), and Detroit, MI (70 degrees F). Before the cold front swept off the East Coast on Friday, temperatures reached 70 degrees F as far north as Newark, NJ. We 1 (2-99) Temperatures plummeted in the front's wake. On Thursday, 5-hour temperature falls included 36 degrees F (from 70 to 34 degrees F) in Quincy, IL and 30 degrees F (from 62 to 32 degrees F) in Des Moines, IA. Post-frontal wind gusts topped 50 mph in many areas from the Plains eastward, reaching 55 mph in Wichita, KS and 68 mph in Rockford, IL. Despite the sharp weather change, temperatures remained above normal in many locations. For example, Saturday marked the 34th consecutive day with above-normal readings in Burlington, IA. In Alaska, bitterly cold weather eased toward week's end. Nevertheless, weekly temperatures ranged from 7 to 29 degrees F below normal in all areas of the State except the southeast. On Monday, lows of -60 degrees F in Bettles, Galena, and Tanana were the lowest on record for so late in the winter. McGrath registered daily-record lows on Sunday (-53 degrees F), Monday (-55 degrees F), and Tuesday (-52 degrees F). On Wednesday, the temperature in Nome climbed above 0 degrees F for the first time since January 24. Nome's 16-day streak with temperatures at or below 0 degrees F was their longest such occurrence since 1989. In Fairbanks, the high temperature attained -19 degrees F on February 11, ending their longest streak (16 days) with readings at or below -20 degrees F since January 14-31, 1971 (18 days). Fairbanks established a record, however, for the most consecutive number of days (19, from January 26 to February 13) with low temperatures below -35 degrees F, breaking their standard of 18 days, set in 1964 and 1971. National Agricultural Summary February 8 - 14, 1999 Highlights: Temperatures continued to average well above normal across most of the Nation. Only areas along the Pacific Coast and adjacent areas of the Rocky Mountains experienced below normal average temperatures. Storms continued to pound coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and points as far south as central California, causing flooding, erosion, and mud slides. Farther inland, at higher elevations of the northern Rockies, the storms delivered additional snow. In California, the rain and wet soils curtailed field activities in most areas until late in the week. Abundant moisture aided development of small grains, winter forages, and sugarbeets. East of the Rockies, from the northern High Plains to the Great Lakes and extending south through the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and lower Mississippi Valley remained in a dry pattern. In Texas, fieldwork continued unhindered in most areas. Corn and sorghum planting increased in southern and coastal areas until a late-week cold front deterred planting. Growth of grasses and small grains improved due to warm weather. Some early-planted corn fields emerged despite late-week cold temperatures. An area stretching from the eastern Corn Belt through the Ohio Valley into the Southeast remained wet due to additional showers. In Florida, warm, dry weather aided sugarcane harvest and field preparations for spring crops. However, winter grains were stressed by moisture shortages. The late-week frost and strong winds caused some minor citrus leaf burn and bloom bud damage. Crews rapidly harvested the early- and mid-season orange crop. Vegetable growth was normal and quality was mostly good. The next "Weekly Weather & Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on February 23, 1999. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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