We 1 (2-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 15, 2000, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and 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 87, No. 7 February 6 - 12, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Stormy weather continued in northern and central California for the 5th consecutive week, boosting high-elevation snow packs closer to normal following an anemic start to the wet season. Beneficial snow also fell in parts of the Intermountain West. After midweek, the most significant precipitation of the season pushed into southern California, while lighter amounts overspread the Southwest. On the Plains, however, only scattered, light snow fell across northern and central areas, while warm, dry conditions persisted in southern areas. In the central one-third of the Nation, concerns are increasing about a lack of moisture for winter grains and possible soil moisture shortages during the upcoming planting season. A relatively quiet weather prevailed in the East until week's end, when a storm produced more than 1 inch of rain from eastern Tennessee to central North Carolina. Temperatures averaged above normal nearly nationwide, although cold air lingered in the East early in the week and Arctic air made several brief intrusions from the northern Plains to New England. Warmth compounded the effects of dryness across the South-Central States, where temperatures ranged from 5 to 14 degrees F above normal. On Sunday morning, temperatures fell to 20 degrees F (a daily record) in Montgomery, AL and 21 degrees F in Tallahassee, FL. Farther west, however, warmth overspread the central one-third of the United States, resulting in nearly two dozen daily-record highs from February 8-10. On Tuesday, highs in South Dakota included 69 degrees F in Pierre and 66 degrees F (38 degrees F above normal) in Huron. Two days later in Texas, highs reached 91 degrees F in Laredo, 89 degrees F in McAllen, and 86 degrees F (a daily record) in San Angelo. Bitterly cold conditions were confined to the Nation's northern tier, where lows dipped to -28 degrees F in Saranac Lake, NY (on February 8) and Embarrass, MN (on February 11). Much colder weather and light snow showers briefly invaded the northern Plains, where temperatures have averaged 5 to 9 degrees F above normal since October 1, 1999. On Friday morning, lows in North Dakota included -13 degrees F in Bismarck and -21 degrees F in Williston. Continuing a month-long trend, weekly precipitation topped 4 inches in parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the water equivalent of the high-elevation Sierra Nevada snow pack has increased by more than 10 inches since January 10. Farther south, Las Vegas, NV recorded measurable precipitation (0.06 inch) on February 10 for the first time since September 22, 1999, ending their dry spell at 140 days. Las Vegas' longest streak without measurable rainfall was 150 days in 1959. In southern California, San Diego's February 10-12 rainfall measured 0.57 inch, nearly equal to their 0.58-inch total received from July 1, 1999 to February 9, 2000. Exceptionally mild weather encompassed interior Alaska for a 4th consecutive week, while bitterly cold conditions finally abated across western areas. Weekly temperatures averaged 10 to 26 degrees F above normal in most areas, including a daily-record high (38 degrees F) in Nome on Monday. The combination of mild weather and rain caused avalanches in parts of southern Alaska. Meanwhile in Hawaii, cool (as much as 2 degrees F below normal), generally dry weather prevailed. National Agricultural Summary February 7 - 13, 2000 Highlights: Temperatures averaged above normal across most of the Nation and well above normal in the Great Plains, Southwest, lower Mississippi Valley, and adjacent areas in the southern and western Corn Belt. Dry weather continued in the Great Plains and interior areas of the Southwest. Many areas in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast also remained drier than normal. Adequate snow cover remained in the upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes region, and parts of the central High Plains, but diminished in the northern Great Plains due to the abnormally warm, dry weather. Rain and warm weather stimulated emergence and growth of winter crops along the Pacific Coast, but the rain delayed fieldwork in central and northern California. Precipitation eased dry conditions along the southern coast, but inland areas remained excessively dry and fieldwork was mostly uninterrupted. Temperatures briefly fell to the freezing point along the Gulf Coast and northern Florida, but no crops were damaged. Fruit trees in the Southeast benefited from the additional chill hours. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on February 23, 2000. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs 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, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. 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