We 1 (1-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 23, 2001, 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 88, No. 4 January 14 - 20, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain returned to the South, further easing long-term moisture deficits but leaving fields and feedlots muddy or with standing water. Weekly rainfall totaled 4 inches or more in many locations from easternmost Texas to the southern Appalachians. In contrast, drought-affected Peninsular Florida remained mostly dry, maintaining heavy citrus irrigation requirements. Cold weather reached deep into the West and South, bringing generally minor freezes to California's San Joaquin Valley on January 17-18, and to extreme southern Texas on January 20. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F below normal in southern California, following the previous week's heavy precipitation, and 8 to 14 degrees F below normal in the southern Rockies, where additional snow fell. Sharply colder weather overspread the Southeast, including Florida, at week's end, reversing a short-lived warm spell that pushed weekly temperatures 2 to 12 degrees F above normal. Meanwhile, snow cover remained extensive across the Nation's northern tier, especially from eastern Montana into the Northeast. Early in the week, beneficial snow blanketed winter wheat areas on the central High Plains, although the ground remained bare in much of western Nebraska and adjacent areas. A late-week storm system produced significant snow, totaling 6 to 12 inches in many locations, from the middle Ohio Valley into the northern Mid-Atlantic region and southern New England. Cool weather lingered across areas from California to the central and southern Plains for much of the week. On Sunday in southern California, Simi Valley's low of 40 degrees F represented their second consecutive daily record. Consecutive record lows were also established in Eureka, NV on January 16 (-9 degrees F) and 17 (-13 degrees F). Also on January 17, daily records were noted in locations such as Randolph, UT (-23 degrees F) and Pueblo, CO (-15 degrees F, aided by an 8-inch snow cover). Freeze warnings were posted on consecutive mornings (January 17 and 18) in California's San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield, CA registered consecutive lows of 30 degrees F, while nearby Wasco recorded 24 degrees F on both mornings. The cold air reached southern Texas on Saturday, where Brownsville's low of 32 degrees F was well shy of their record for the date (27 degrees F in 1883). The slow-moving storm system that helped to drain cold air deep into the West and South also soaked the South and East. Through January 20, month-to-date precipitation reached 4.59 inches in Shreveport, LA and 4.52 inches in Jackson, MS. Warm air briefly spread across the Southeast in advance of the system, resulting in daily-record highs on Friday in locations such as Melbourne, FL (85 degrees F), Florence, SC (78 degrees F), and Raleigh-Durham, NC (73 degrees F). After merging with a disturbance crossing the Midwest, the storm brought snow to portions of the Nation's northeastern quadrant. Storm-total (January 20-21) snowfall reached 6.0 inches at both Boston, MA and New York's Central Park. Meanwhile, cold-season precipitation deficits continued to mount in much of the West, especially from the northern half of the Pacific Coast eastward to the northern Rockies. In Oregon, October 1 to January 21 precipitation totaled 17.85 inches (54 percent of normal) in Astoria and 9.92 inches (49 percent) in Salem. During the same period, only 14.15 inches (54 percent of normal) dampened Olympia, WA. Record warmth overspread Alaska, pushing weekly temperatures more than 30 degrees F above normal in some interior sections of the State. High temperatures topped 40 degrees F as far north as Fairbanks, where the mercury reached 42 degrees F on January 14. Fairbanks' highs reached or exceeded 42 degrees F on just 12 other January days during the 97-year period of record. Meanwhile in Hawaii, warm weather (up to 3 degrees F above normal) accompanied another mostly dry week. Following a mostly dry year in 2000 that featured less than half of the normal rainfall at three of Hawaii's four major reporting stations (Honolulu received 7.11 inches, or 32 percent of normal; Kahului netted 9.78 inches, or 47 percent; and Lihue recorded 18.01 inches, or 42 percent), the new year has opened on a very dry note. National Agricultural Summary January 15 - 21, 2001 Heavy rainfall substantially increased soil moisture supplies in an area extending from eastern Texas, through the lower Mississippi Valley, and into the southern Appalachians. Adjacent areas of the Southeast also received significant precipitation. The remainder of the Southeast and Atlantic Coastal Plains received beneficial precipitation, but amounts were mostly light, with only scattered areas of moderate to heavy rainfall. Topsoil moisture supplies remained very short in Florida, where cold weather and drought continued to limit growth of small grains and cool season forages. Scattered light snow flurries blanketed parts of the Corn Belt and Great Plains, providing minimal cover for the winter wheat crop. Some wheat fields were exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the northern Great Plains. Cold weather and a mixture of snow, sleet, and light rain covered the southern Great Plains and delayed fieldwork in Texas. Although many small grains remained dormant in Texas, a few isolated oat fields entered the heading stage in the Lower Valley. Dry weather prevailed in the Pacific Coast States, but moisture from recent rains improved growth and development of winter grains and forages in California, despite below-normal temperatures. Pruning continued in orchards and vineyards, but activities were hindered by lingering wetness. Early varieties of freestone peaches and nectarines were developing buds. Harvest of grapefruit, navel oranges, and other citrus crops remained active. Harvest also continued for several vegetable crops. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on January 30, 2001. 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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