We 1 (2-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 23, 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. 8 February 13 - 19, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: In the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys, heavy rain (2 to 7 inches) flooded lowlands and left fields and feedlots muddy. Meanwhile, light precipitation fell in the central Plains and western Corn Belt, providing limited relief from dryness that developed during the autumn of 1999. Soils remained extremely dry, however, from Texas to the Delta, allowing spring fieldwork to rapidly proceed, but stressing winter grains and newly planted crops. Farther north, the coldest week of the winter increased livestock stress on the northern Plains, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 16 degrees F below normal. Nevertheless, bitterly cold conditions (temperatures below -10 degrees F) were confined to areas from northern Montana to northern New England. Occasionally snowy, breezy conditions also increased livestock stress from the western Corn Belt to New England. In contrast, very warm conditions (temperatures 4 to 18 degrees F above normal) prevailed across the South. In the West, widespread precipitation continued to boost moisture reserves and improve high-elevation snow packs. A sixth consecutive week of heavy precipitation raised the water content of the Sierra Nevada snow pack to near normal. Little moisture reached Arizona and New Mexico, however, where ranges, pastures, and dryland crops remained stressed. A storm's passage on February 18 capped an extremely wet period for the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys. On Friday, Evansville, IN netted 3.38 inches (their wettest February day on record, shattering the mark of 3.00 inches set on February 13, 1946), raising their February 1-19 total to 5.29 inches (270 percent of normal), and year-to-date total to 9.65 inches (209 percent). Similarly in Kentucky, Louisville's January 1 - February 19 precipitation reached 11.31 inches (228 percent of normal), aided by a month-to-date sum of 5.80 inches (276 percent). Late-week flooding ensued on the middle Ohio River and its tributaries. On the mainstem Ohio River, the crest reached Maysville, KY on Tuesday, February 22, approximately 2.8 feet above flood stage. Exceptionally mild weather prevailed for much of the week across the South, resulting in more than three dozen daily-record highs. In Texas, Brownsville (89 and 87 degrees F) opened the week with consecutive records. On Tuesday, Abilene, TX posted a daily-record high of 89 degrees F, while record warmth reached as far north as Salina, KS (71 degrees F). After midweek, a cold front briefly ushered cooler weather onto the Plains. On Saturday, lows included 12 degrees F in Gage, OK and 14 degrees F in Liberal, KS. Farther north, late-week snow depths reached 6 inches in Lincoln, NE and 1 inch in Goodland, KS. Record warmth continued through week's end, however, in the Southeast, where Tallahassee, FL logged a daily-record high of 86 degrees F on Saturday. Moderate to severe drought continued to affect many areas from western Texas to the Delta. In Houston, TX, rainfall from August 1, 1999 - February 15, 2000 was just 8.42 inches (34 percent of normal), the lowest on record. Houston's previous lowest precipitation during that period was 11.84 inches in 1950-51. Nearby College Station, TX received 8.23 inches (39 percent of normal) during the same period, their lowest August 1 - February 15 total since only 8.17 inches fell in 1956-57. In contrast, continued storminess in the West raised the water equivalent of the high-elevation Sierra Nevada snow pack to 20 inches (92 percent of normal) by February 18, up from just 3 inches (20 percent of normal) on January 10, according to the California Department of Water Resources. In California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's season-to-date precipitation surged past 13 inches, and above normal, on February 13. As recently as January 11, Sacramento's seasonal rainfall stood at just 1.91 inches, or 22 percent of normal. Heavy precipitation reached as far north as Oregon on Monday, where Pendleton noted their wettest February day on record. Pendleton's February 14 total reached 0.94 inch, breaking their record of 0.87 inch set on February 18, 1949. High winds accompanied some of the storminess, including a gust to 63 mph in Redding, CA on February 14. Farther east, strong thunderstorms swept across the South on the night of February 13-14, resulting in 18 fatalities in southern Georgia due to tornadoes. Meanwhile, wintry conditions clung stubbornly across the North. On Monday, 18.3 inches of snow blanketed Caribou, ME, breaking their single-day February record (16.9 inches) set on February 12, 1952. Additional snowfall reached the Northeast late in the week, when totals reached 8.0 inches in Boston, MA and 10.5 inches in Jaffrey, NH. By Saturday morning, snow depths across the North included 4 inches in Glasgow, MT, 17 inches in Wausau, WI, 20 inches in Burlington, VT, and 44 inches in Houlton, ME. Hawaii's pattern of mostly dry weather and near- to below-normal temperatures continued for the fourth week in a row. Meanwhile, interior Alaska reported a fifth consecutive week of above-normal temperatures. Very mild conditions also prevailed across western Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged up to 25 degrees F above normal. National Agricultural Summary February 14 - 20, 2000 Highlights: A band of rain centered over the Ohio River Valley boosted soil moisture supplies in the southern and eastern Corn Belt, and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and Atlantic Coastal Plains. Along the lower Great Lakes and into the Northeast, the storm delivered a mixture of snow, freezing rain, and rain. Light precipitation added moisture to soils in the northern and western Corn Belt and central Great Plains, but most of the northern and southern Great Plains remained dry. Temperatures averaged well below normal in the northern High Plains, and slightly below normal in adjacent areas of the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. Snow cover provided some protection for wheat fields in Montana, where overnight temperatures dropped well below zero. Pacific storms shifted southward, with the heaviest precipitation falling in northern California, while the Pacific Northwest benefited from slightly drier weather. Field activity was significantly delayed in California, as soils were too wet to support heavy equipment. However, rainfall enhanced growth and development of dryland grain and oat-hay crops. Moisture and seasonal temperatures also stimulated winter wheat growth, but some stands remained thin. Some low-lying wheat fields were temporarily flooded due to heavy rainfall. Orchard work was also delayed by the wet weather. Where possible, growers pruned and planted trees and vines and sprayed dormant stone fruit trees. In southern California, grapefruit and lemon harvests remained active and navel orange picking continued in the San Joaquin Valley. Almonds and stone fruits were blooming. In Texas, dry conditions and above-normal temperatures, along with wind and blowing dust continued across most of the state. Corn planting expanded in southeastern Texas, where adequate moisture was available. Cotton planting began in the Coastal Bend. In Florida, warmer weather aided plant and tree growth, with some trees developing small bloom buds. Citrus harvest continued in all areas, although some early and mid-season orange supplies diminished. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on February 29, 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). 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