We 1 (2-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 6, 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. 6 January 28 - February 3, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Blizzard conditions engulfed parts of the central Plains and northwestern Corn Belt until midweek, stressing livestock and disrupting travel. In the latter region, as much as 2 feet of snow padded an already extensive snow cover, while on the Plains, a widespread snow cover helped to protect winter wheat from weather extremes. Farther south and east, weekly precipitation totaled 2 inches or more from eastern Oklahoma to north-central Illinois, leaving fields and feedlots muddy. In addition, widespread freezing rain was reported across the central Corn Belt. By Friday morning, temperatures at or below 0 degrees F were noted as far south as central Illinois and northern portions of Kansas and Missouri, while readings below -20 degrees F briefly affected eastern South Dakota and parts of Minnesota. Rainfall totaled 1 inch or more across much of the South, including southernmost Texas and the northern half of Florida's peninsula. However, mostly dry weather persisted in most of Florida's citrus, sugarcane, and winter vegetable areas, further reducing water supplies and maintaining heavy irrigation requirements. Slightly warmer weather (up to 7 degrees F above normal) spurred some spring fieldwork and crop development across extreme southern portions of the region, including southern Texas and Florida. In the Northwest, light precipitation provided little relief from large long-term precipitation deficits. Season-to-date precipitation (since October 1, 2000) remained generally 40 to 70 percent of normal from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada eastward to the northern Rockies, increasing concerns about spring runoff prospects and summer water supplies. Although cool conditions prevailed in agricultural areas of California and the Southwest, dry weather favored initial spring fieldwork. Early in the week, a storm system tracked northward across the Corn Belt, leaving a trail of broken daily-precipitation records. Joplin, MO noted record totals on both January 28 (1.95 inches) and 29 (1.36 inches). On Monday in Illinois, precipitation included 2.35 inches in Peoria and 1.34 inches in Rockford, exceeding the stations' normal January totals of 1.51 and 1.28 inches, respectively. Meanwhile in eastern South Dakota, January 29-30 snowfall reached 23.0 inches in Mitchell and 20.0 inches in Huron. Most (19.5 inches) of Huron's snow fell in a 24-hour period, breaking their all-time record of 18.3 inches, set on March 3, 1985. The storm also propelled Huron to their snowiest January on record (28.7 inches), erasing their 1975 standard of 27.7 inches. In the storm's wake, peak wind gusts on January 30 reached 51 mph in Goodland, KS and 40 mph in Mitchell. On Friday morning, low temperatures included -24 degrees F in Alexandria, MN and -23 degrees F in Watertown, SD. Farther south, Concordia, KS noted -7 degrees F. Farther west, warm weather returned to California at week's end, resulting in more than a dozen daily-record highs on Saturday. Records included 78 degrees F in Watsonville, 84 degrees F in Santa Maria, and 88 degrees F in El Cajon. Meanwhile, beneficial rainfall dampened the Nation's southern tier. On Thursday in southern Texas, Brownsville's total of 0.84 inch represented their greatest 1-day total since 1.67 inches fell on October 7, 2000. In Florida, Tampa netted 0.93 inch during the first 3 days of February, following a 1.03-inch total during all of January. A warmer-than-normal weather pattern prevailed in Alaska, continuing a remarkably mild winter. Weekly temperatures averaged 10 to 14 degrees F above normal across interior sections, while widespread precipitation continued across southern Alaska. Meanwhile, Hawaii's unusually dry winter persisted, although some beneficial showers were noted across the western islands. National Agricultural Summary January 29 - February 4, 2001 Most areas east of the Rocky Mountains received precipitation in the form of rain, freezing rain, or snow, but amounts varied greatly. A band of heavy winter precipitation increased moisture supplies in an area extending from Oklahoma to the central Corn Belt. In Florida, the southern peninsula remained dry, but central and northern parts of the State received much-needed rain. However, moisture supplies remained short across most of the State and along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Precipitation was light and scattered in the northern Great Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. Temperatures averaged well above normal east of the Mississippi River and well below normal in the southern High Plains and Southwest. Snow cover diminished on the Great Plains, but increased in the Corn Belt. Rain reduced wild fire danger in parts of Florida, but winter forage crops produced little growth and remained under drought stress. Sugarcane and vegetable harvests continued without delay. Most citrus growers continued irrigating groves, although rain limited requirements for some caretakers. Small grains remained dormant on the Texas High Plains, where growing conditions were unfavorable due to cold, icy, and windy weather. Emergence and growth of dryland winter crops accelerated in California due to improved soil moisture supplies. However, below-normal temperatures limited development. Grapefruit harvest was active in the desert areas. Early peach and nectarine varieties were budding, but most of California's orchards and vineyards remained dormant. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on February 13, 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). 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