We 1 (12-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 19, 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. 51 December 10 - 16, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. A trio of winter storms left an extensive snow cover across the Midwest and eased long-term drought in the Mid-South. Weekly rainfall topped 4 inches in parts of the Tennessee Valley, while late-week snow depths ranged from 6 to 15 inches in the northern and western Corn Belt. Significant precipitation, mostly rain, also fell in the Northeast. Although early-week showers caused localized flash flooding in southeastern Florida, most of the peninsula experienced warm and unfavorably dry weather, further increasing irrigation requirements for citrus and winter vegetables. Meanwhile, bitterly cold conditions, light snow, blowing snow, and gusty winds disrupted rural travel and stressed livestock on the northern Plains, where late-week wind chills plummeted as low as -50 to -70oF. Weekly temperatures averaged 10 to 20oF below normal in the western Corn Belt and as much as 27oF below normal in northern Montana. Temperatures remained below 10oF all week in much of North Dakota. In contrast, readings ranged from 1 to 7oF above normal in California and the Southwest. Widespread precipitation returned to areas from northern California to the Pacific Northwest, improving high-elevation snow packs following a slow start to the wet season. The week opened and closed with bitterly cold conditions in place across the North Central States. On December 10, Glasgow, MT noted a high of -9oF and a low of -24oF, both records for the date. A day later, Rapid City, SD noted a daily-record low of -19oF, following their longest period without sub-zero temperatures on record (705 days, from January 5, 1999 to December 9, 2000). By Tuesday, frigid air overspread the northern Rockies, Plains, and Midwest in the wake of a major storm system, producing record lows in locations such as Bozeman, MT (-27oF), Aberdeen, SD (-25oF), Chadron, NE (-24oF), and Waterloo, IA (-15oF). Sub-zero readings were reported as far east as northern Indiana, where South Bend registered -6oF. Another blast of cold air reached the Plains and Midwest toward week's end. On Saturday, wind chill temperatures fell below -30oF as far south as southern Kansas. Two days earlier, on December 14, Wichita, KS had noted a low of 0oF, their lowest temperatures since a low of 0oF on December 22, 1998. Wichita's most recent sub-zero reading was observed on February 4, 1996, when the low was -7oF. Between cold snaps, temperatures remained below 0oF for 81 hours in a row (December 10-13) in Duluth, MN and 117 consecutive hours (December 9-14) in Aberdeen, SD. Duluth's record remains nearly 12 consecutive days in January 1912, while Aberdeen's remains more than 18 days in February 1936. The first of three low-pressure systems produced December-record 24-hour snowfall totals in Grand Rapids, MI (15.1 inches on December 11-12) and Milwaukee, WI (13.6 inches on December 11). Elsewhere in Michigan, Flint's storm-total snowfall of 14.0 inches represented their greatest single-storm total since 17.3 inches fell on April 2-3, 1975. Through Sunday, December 17, Flint's month-to-date snowfall reached 27.8 inches, eclipsing their previous December record of 27.7 inches, set in 1929. The second storm system also blanketed the Great Lakes region, but produced significant snowfall much farther south. In southern Missouri, Springfield's 14.3-inch storm total on December 12-13, shattered their 24-hour record for December (previously 12.7 inches on December 7, 1917). Springfield received just 8.6 inches of snow during the entire 1999-2000 season. In Oklahoma, Tulsa received 7.3 inches on December 12-13, representing their fourth-highest total for the entire month of December. Even farther to the south, the midweek storm was also responsible for a swath of ice accumulations and electrical disruptions from eastern Texas into the Mid-South. The late-week storm system brought yet another round of snow to parts of the Midwest, but produced heavy rain and severe weather across the South. On Saturday night, about 20 tornadoes were reported from Alabama to the southern Atlantic Coast. One tornado had a path length of more than 18 miles near Tuscaloosa, AL, resulting in at least seven deaths. In southern Florida, Miami was pelted by a daily-record rainfall (5.06 inches) on December 10. Locally as much as 15 inches of rain fell just south of Miami, but generally 1 inch of rain or less fell in agricultural areas on the peninsula away from the immediate coastal strip of southeastern Florida. In contrast, weekly precipitation totaled 2 inches or more in many areas from the middle and lower Mississippi Valley northeastward to the northern Mid-Atlantic region. At week's end, heavy rain and high winds were spreading into New England. Relatively quiet weather prevailed again in Hawaii, following November's deluge across the eastern islands that resulted in a monthly total of 45.90 inches (316 percent of normal) in Hilo. Meanwhile, a very mild weather pattern continued across Alaska, particularly across western areas. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 24oF above normal in the southwestern corner of the State. National Agricultural Summary December 11 - 17, 2000 Strong winds and freezing temperatures associated with a strong Arctic front crossed Texas early in the week. In central and eastern areas of the State, ice storms downed power lines and damaged peach and pecan trees. The extreme cold had little impact on cotton, sorghum, and peanut harvest activities across the Plains, but ice accumulations delayed progress in some areas. The end of the harvest season approached, with most remaining crops unsuitable for harvest. Land preparation and small grain seeding continued where possible, but poor weather conditions and lateness of the planting season slowed progress. In central Texas, cold weather and saturated soils prohibited planting and hindered crop emergence and growth in earlier-planted fields. Weather conditions remained favorable for fruit and vegetable harvests in the Rio Grande Valley. Citrus harvest remained active. The pecan harvest continued, as weather conditions allowed. Cotton and sugar beet harvests were essentially complete in California. Growers were shredding and discing fields. Field preparations continued for the 2001 cotton crop. Alfalfa hay cutting ceased in most areas, but several fields were green-chopped for silage. New alfalfa fields were prepared, irrigated, and seeded. Wheat and barley planting continued. Dryland oats planting continued, despite low soil moisture levels. Moisture shortages hindered germination and emergence of recently planted winter grains. Warm weather was conducive to growth of early-planted fields, but overcast skies limited development. Land preparation and planting of winter forage crops continued. Orchard and vineyard caretakers pruned trees and vines. Grape harvest for fresh market consumption was nearly complete. Grapefruit harvest was active in the San Joaquin Valley and lemon picking was active in southern California. Navel orange and tangerine harvests also continued. Winter vegetables thrived due to favorable weather conditions. In Florida, small grains and cool season forages were stressed by topsoil moisture shortages. The sugarcane harvest progressed with few delays. Most citrus groves remained in good condition due to the constant irrigation. However, there was very little new growth. Harvest crews were busy moving fruit to fresh fruit houses and processing plants. Caretakers mowed, disced, and chopped cover crops prior to harvest and for fire protection. In the south and coastal areas, a few growers sprayed fresh crops. Dead trees were removed and some grove trash was burned, although restrictions limited burning due to dry conditions. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. on December 27, 2000. 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