Release March 2,1999 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. 9 February 21 - 27, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Extremely wet weather continued in the Pacific Northwest, breaking numerous February and November-February precipitation records, keeping soils saturated, and causing mud slides and widespread lowland flooding. In contrast, very dry conditions persisted from the Southwest to Texas, further reducing topsoil moisture. Significant rain last dampened the southern Plains at the end of January, but mostly dry weather prevailed throughout the meteorological winter (December-February) in areas from southern California to southern Texas. Although reservoir supplies remain near to above normal across the Southwest, topsoils are becoming increasingly dry across southern Texas, where corn, cotton, and sorghum planting is underway. Farther east, late-week rainfall (generally 1 to 2 inches) kept soil moisture at adequate to locally surplus levels from the Ohio Valley southward to the Delta. Beneficial showers overspread the southern Atlantic Coast States, including portions of Peninsular Florida, at week's end. For the seventh consecutive week, temperatures averaged above normal on the Plains, helping winter wheat to begin breaking dormancy as far north as southern and western Nebraska. Departures on the Plains ranged from +3 to +13 degrees F. In contrast, colder weather overspread the East, holding temperatures as much as 10 degrees F below normal in the Mid-Atlantic region. Sub-freezing temperatures again reached northern Florida (on February 22-23), but remained north of citrus- and vegetable-producing areas. Farther north, a February 25-26 snow storm buried areas from eastern Long Island to eastern New England with as much as 1 to 2 feet of snow. In northern California, cool weather (as much as 5 degrees F below normal) lingered for a fifth consecutive week. In the Northwest, more than 1 inch of rain soaked Olympia, WA on Monday (1.17 inches), Wednesday (1.98 inches), and Saturday (1.50 inches), boosting their monthly precipitation to a February-record 15.50 inches. Olympia netted more than 10 inches of precipitation for a fourth consecutive month, breaking their November-February rainfall record (42.03 inches in 1949-50) by more than 13 inches. Olympia's 4-month total (55.70 inches) also surpassed their normal annual rainfall (50.59 inches). Elsewhere in western Washington, Seattle also posted a record November-February total (34.39 inches), while Quillayute received both November-February (88.93 inches) and February-record totals (26.20 inches). Measurable rain fell in Seattle on 90 of the 120 days from November 1 to February 28, breaking a 1958-59 standard by 3 days. Western Washington's Chehalis River crested on Thursday at 4.6 feet above flood stage at Centralia and 2.9 feet above near Grand Mound. During the first 2 months of 1999, rainfall totaled only 0.01 inch in Tucson, AZ and 0.09 inch in San Antonio, TX. Despite recent dryness across the Southwest, reservoir storage on February 1 stood at 159 percent of average in New Mexico and 94 percent in Arizona. In Texas, no February precipitation fell in Midland for the first time since 1947, and in Abilene since 1909. February rainfall was the lowest since 1916 in San Antonio (0.01 inch) and Austin (0.03 inch). In addition, many locations in the South-Central States experienced their warmest February since 1976, including San Antonio, Midland, and Wichita, KS. With an average temperature of 62.3 degrees F, Austin logged their warmest February on record. During the week, temperatures surged above 70 degrees F as far north as Rapid City, SD (72 degrees F on Thursday, 3 degrees F shy of their February record). Chanute, KS noted a daily-record high (75 degrees F) on Friday, followed a day later by a high of 87 degrees F in Austin. We 1 (3-99) In Indiana, Indianapolis rainfall totaled 0.77 inch on February 27, helping to raise their February precipitation to 3.57 inches (145 percent of normal) and year-to-date total to 9.92 inches (208 percent). Chattanooga, TN recorded 1.46 inches on Saturday, lifting their February total to 3.76 inches (78 percent of normal), but their January-February precipitation to 13.56 inches (140 percent). Farther south, however, late- week showers were not enough to prevent the driest February on record in locations such as Mobile, AL (1.09 inches) and Montgomery, AL (1.11 inches). On Monday, Mobile's low temperature fell to 29 degrees F, followed a day later by a minimum of 26 degrees F in Gainesville, FL. Meanwhile, snow again fell in the western Corn Belt. Following last week's 8.6 inches of snow, another 7.2 inches fell in Omaha, NE on February 22-23. Omaha's February 17-23 snowfall (15.8 inches) accounted for 61 percent of their season-to-date total. Elsewhere in the Midwest, February 22-23 snowfall included 5.9 inches in Sioux Falls, SD and 4.6 inches in Des Moines, IA. On February 23, the month's only measurable snowfall occurred in locations such as Evansville, IN (3.3 inches), Springfield, IL (3.2 inches), and Washington, DC (0.2 inch). Farther north, heavy snow overspread eastern New England on Thursday. Storm-total (February 25-26) snowfall reached 6.0 inches in Boston, MA and 11.4 inches in Providence, RI, accompanied by northerly wind gusts to 32 mph at both sites. On the eastern tip of Long Island, 13.5 inches fell at Montauk, NY. Across eastern Massachusetts, wind gusts topped 40 mph, and snowfall reached 17 inches in Nantucket and 24 inches in Harwich. National Agricultural Summary February 22 - 28, 1999 Highlights: More winter wheat fields broke dormancy in the central and southern Great Plains, Mississippi Delta, and southern Corn Belt, as mild temperatures continued to prevail. Temperatures averaged well above normal from the Great Lakes westward through the northern High Plains, but turned colder in the eastern Corn Belt and Atlantic and Gulf Coast States. Temperatures averaged slightly above normal in the western Corn Belt, central Plains, and Rocky Mountains. In the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, rain prevented most spring tillage work. Below-normal temperatures prevailed in California, but did not hinder growth of small grains, alfalfa, and forage crops. Some wheat fields were developing heads. Fieldwork was delayed by rain and wet soils in northern areas of the State, but gained momentum elsewhere. Cotton planting began in the Imperial Valley. The Pacific Northwest continued to receive rain along the coast and snow in the higher elevations. In the central and southern Great Plains, strong winds depleted moisture supplies in already dry soils, hindering small grain development. However, fields remained green due to mild temperatures. Corn, cotton, and sorghum planting was active in southern and coastal areas of the State. In central and eastern parts of the State, dry soils delayed planting, but field preparations continued. Warm temperatures aided corn emergence where soils had adequate moisture. Peach trees were blooming and pecan buds were swelling due to the warm weather. Dry conditions aided fieldwork in the Southeast and the sugarcane harvest in Florida. However, citrus groves needed rain to sustain growth and healthy bloom bud development. The next "Weekly Weather & Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on March 9, 1999. 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