We 1 (12-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 5, 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. 49 November 26 - December 2, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: Despite a late-month warming trend, the Nation completed an extremely cold November. Especially cold weather gripped the northern Plains and northern Rockies, holding monthly temperatures as much as 15oF below normal. During the most recent week, however, mild, mostly dry weather prevailed nearly nationwide, favoring final autumn fieldwork in many areas. Cool weather lingered from the Ohio Valley southward, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 6oF below normal. In contrast, weekly readings averaged up to 7oF above normal in the Southwest. In the South-Central States, late-week precipitation was confined to the Page Break Here southern half of Texas, allowing final winter wheat planting and cotton and peanut harvesting to proceed. Farther east, wet conditions continued to hamper fieldwork across the remainder of the South, especially in the central Gulf Coast region. Across Florida's peninsula, however, scattered showers provided little relief from long-term drought. Light precipitation, mainly snow, fell from the Dakotas to the Midwest, while early-week precipitation, mostly rain, totaled an inch or more across much of the Northeast. Following a slow start to the wet season in the northern Rockies and Northwest, beneficial precipitation boosted topsoil moisture and improved high-elevation snow packs. Snowfall in Aberdeen, SD totaled 4.8 inches on the 28th and 10.5 inches on the 30th, boosting their November total to a record-setting 30.5 inches. The previous record, 30.1 inches, was established in November 1993. Both Aberdeen (2.87 inches, or 486 percent of normal) and Williston, ND (3.29 inches, or 731 percent) set November precipitation records. Farther west, Lander, WY noted a monthly average temperature of 16.0oF (15.2oF below normal), breaking their November 1985 record of 17.8oF. In Nevada, Ely also posted their coldest November, with an average temperature of 25.8oF (8.4oF below normal). Meanwhile in the Great Lakes region, monthly snowfall reached 42.2 inches in Erie, PA and 45.6 inches (a November record) in Buffalo, NY. Erie's snowiest November remains 46.9 inches in 1950. Farther south, Tyler, TX netted a monthly rainfall total of 13.32 inches, eclipsing their November 1946 standard of 12.09 inches. In nearby Lufkin, TX, the November sum of 16.05 inches was second only to a 20.12-inch total in November 1940. New Orleans, LA finished the month with 11.72 inches (265 percent of normal), their wettest November since 15.27 inches fell in 1992. Elsewhere in Louisiana, Shreveport received measurable rainfall on 19 days during the month, breaking their November 1957 record of 17 days and representing their highest monthly total since 19 days in May 1991. In Arkansas, Little Rock received 11.16 inches (216 percent of normal) during November, their first monthly total greater than 10 inches since April 1991. In contrast, November rainfall in Peninsular Florida was as low as a trace in Ft. Myers and 0.36 inch (12 percent of normal) in Melbourne. Year-to-date rainfall deficits rose to18.30 inches in West Palm Beach and 17.17 inches in Orlando. Meanwhile in the Pacific Northwest, late-month showers brought some relief from recent dryness, but failed to significantly dent November precipitation deficits in locations such as Redding, CA (0.98 inch, or 19 percent of normal) and Eugene, OR (1.61 inches, or 19 percent). Quiet weather (light showers) prevailed in Hawaii, but heavy precipitation persisted across parts of southern Alaska. In the Aleutians, Cold Bay netted 3.42 inches of rain on December 2-3, breaking their 24-hour precipitation record for December. Cold Bay's January 1 - December 2 precipitation reached 74.05 inches (227 percent of normal), easily surpassing their former annual record of 53.15 inches, set in 1978. In addition, bitterly cold weather overspread western Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 15oF below normal. National Agricultural Summary November 27 - December 2, 2000 Highlights: In the southern Great Plains, seasonal temperatures and winds that hastened drying aided harvest of remaining summer crops and allowed land preparation for next year's crops to accelerate. However, showers and slow drying prevented completion of the cotton harvest and limited land preparation and planting of small grains in parts of Texas. Winter wheat and oat seeding continued in isolated parts of Texas, while sunshine accelerated growth. Cotton, sorghum, and peanut harvests continued on the High Plains and Trans Pecos areas as drier conditions emerged. Growers finished harvesting the ratoon rice crop along the western Gulf Coast. The sugarcane harvest was hampered by muddy conditions in Louisiana, but remained active in Florida. The cotton harvest continued in the Southwest, aided by warm, dry weather. In California, harvest was more than 90 percent complete in most counties. Dry weather also aided California's sugar beet, alfalfa, and corn silage harvests. California growers planted and fertilized irrigated winter wheat and barley, but most dryland growers waited for rain. Above-normal temperatures accelerated growth in early-planted fields. Fruit growers pruned fruit trees and grape vines. Grapefruit and new crop Navel orange harvests remained active, while Valencia orange harvest neared completion. Lemon picking was active in southern California. Winter vegetables thrived under nearly ideal conditions, and limited picking began on early-maturing fields. Growers prepared beds for next year's processing tomato crop. Snow cover for the winter wheat crop was thin and uneven across most of the northern Great Plains and almost nonexistent in the central Great Plains and Corn Belt. In the Southeast, a late-week storm produced a mixture of wintery precipitation that increased moisture supplies, but halted harvest progress and other fieldwork. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. on December 12, 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!! 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