We 1 (2-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 5, 2002, 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 89, No. 6 January 27 - February 2, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A snow and ice storm blanketed and glazed the central and southern Plains and much of the Corn Belt, providing much-needed moisture for the Plains' winter wheat crop and Midwestern soil moisture recharge, but causing major travel and electrical disruptions. Farther north, cold, extremely dry weather persisted from western Nebraska northward through Montana, leaving the drought-stressed wheat crop with little or no snow cover. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 16 degrees F below normal in northern Montana, where low temperatures below -20 degrees F were noted. Snow and ice accumulations were also observed in the Northeast, providing limited drought relief. However, little or no precipitation fell in the middle and southern Atlantic States, where long-term drought persisted despite January topsoil moisture improvements. Record warmth promoted pasture and winter grain development in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain, where high temperatures peaked above 80 degrees F and weekly readings ranged from 8 to 20 degrees F above normal. Meanwhile, only light precipitation fell across the lower Mississippi Valley, allowing lowland flooding to subside. Farther west, frosty weather continued in California's San Joaquin Valley, continuing a trend that developed in mid-January. Near- to slightly below-freezing conditions also briefly spread into winter agricultural areas of southern California and Arizona. Although the cold weather slowed winter grain growth and necessitated some freeze-protection measures, fruit and nut trees benefited from the increase in "chill hours." Some beneficial high-elevation snowfall accompanied the cold weather across the Southwest, although summer water-supply concerns persisted. On January 30-31, storm-total snowfall topped 10 inches in several locations from southeastern Nebraska to northern Illinois, including Grand Island, NE (13.5 inches), Burlington, IA (12.7 inches), and Chicago, IL (12.0 inches). Hastings, NE, which received 9.8 inches on January 31, had their highest 1-day total on record during January. Grand Island's 10.6-inch snowfall on January 31 was their greatest calendar-day total in January since 1912. Just south of the heavy snow band, which stretched from the Southwest into the Northeast, freezing rain coated trees and power lines. In Pleasant Hill, MO, January 29-31 precipitation totaled 2.32 inches, nearly all falling as freezing rain. Oklahoma City, OK, recorded 2.23 inches (mostly freezing rain) during the same period. Meanwhile, 3.46 inches of rain soaked Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, in a 24-hour period on January 30-31. Meanwhile, more than a dozen monthly record highs were established across the South and East from January 29-31. On the 30th, January records included 80 degrees F in Lynchburg, VA, and Raleigh-Durham, NC. Little Rock, AR, noted 81 degrees F, their first January high at or above 80 degrees F since January 27, 1975. A day later, January-record highs were posted in locations such as Tampa, FL (86 degrees F), Memphis, TN (79 degrees F), and Morgantown, WV (75 degrees F). On February 1, however, a strong cold front chased the warmth, replaced by winds that gusted to 59 mph in Syracuse, NY, and 63 mph in Dubois, PA. In the West, the early- to midweek period featured the slow progression of the storm system that eventually traversed the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Low-elevation locations from California into the Southwest received unusual snowfall, including the first trace of snow in Sacramento, CA, since February 27, 1996. Farther south, Tucson, AZ, received 0.6 inch on January 30, their first measurable snowfall since 0.3 inch fell on March 16, 1991. Tucson registered a low of 25 degrees F on January 24, their lowest reading since a minimum of 25 degrees F on December 4, 1999, followed by a low of 26 degrees F on January 31. In California's San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield recorded six consecutive freezes from January 29 - February 3, giving the city 13 days with lows in the 26- to 32-degree range in a 19-day period (January 16 - February 3). In southern California, Ramona notched six consecutive daily-record lows (23, 22, 22, 25, 26, and 27 degrees F) from January 30 - February 4. Farther inland, daily-record lows on January 30 included -37 degrees F in Randolph, UT, and -27 degrees F in Wells, NV. A "kona" storm produced torrential rainfall across Hawaii in late January, easing long-term drought but causing flash flooding. On Oahu, 24-hour rainfall totals on January 28-29 reached 5.98 inches at the Wilson Tunnel and 5.26 inches at the Manoa Lyon Arboretum. During the ensuing 24-hour period (January 29-30), totals on the Big Island included 11.66 inches in Pahoa, 10.98 inches in Pahala, 9.58 inches at the Kapapala Ranch, and 9.14 inches in Mountain View. On Kauai, nearly half (2.50 inches) of Lihue's monthly rainfall (5.26 inches, or 115 percent of normal) fell on January 29. Hilo, on the Big Island, netted 12.20 inches on the 29th, eclipsing their calendar-day record for January (previously 9.51 inches on January 19, 1990). For the month, Hilo received 26.95 inches (277 percent of normal). Farther north, widespread precipitation accompanied a general warming trend across southern Alaska, while bitterly cold weather persisted for the second consecutive week in northwestern Alaska. Weekly temperatures ranged from 16 degrees F below normal in northwestern Alaska to as much as 6 degrees F above normal in southeastern parts of the State. McGrath, AK, which rebounded from a low of -43 degrees F on January 25 to post highs of 12 degrees F on January 28 and 29, received 14.4 inches of snow from January 26-29. National Agricultural Summary January 28 - February 3, 2002 A winter storm developed over the southern Great Plains and tracked northeastward through the southern and eastern Corn Belt and into the Northeast, producing heavy precipitation, including freezing rain and snow, along its northwestern boundary. The precipitation provided beneficial moisture for winter wheat fields in the southern and central Great Plains, but soil moisture supplies were excessive across much of the central and eastern Corn Belt. Sub-freezing temperatures penetrated into the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast as the winter storm progressed, but temperatures averaged above normal for the week. Consequently, growth of winter grains and forages was only temporarily delayed. Topsoil moisture supplies diminished along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, limiting the response of winter grains and forages to record warmth. Across the northern Great Plains, bitterly cold weather combined with persistent soil moisture shortages provided extremely unfavorable conditions for the winter wheat crop. In the Southwest, temperatures averaged well below normal, and citrus growers ran irrigation systems and wind machines to protect fruit from frost damage. Nevertheless, ice marks and slight freeze damage showed in some citrus varieties. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on February 12, 2002. 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, 1400 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!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http:/www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http:/www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. 2) If you do NOT have Internet access, send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.