We 1 (3-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 19, 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. 12 March 10 - 16, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A sharp frontal boundary developed across the Nation, separating cold air across the North and West from warm air in the South and East. The front, which edged southward and eastward during the week, helped to focus a band of snow across the North and rain in the South. West of the Rocky Divide, weekly temperatures averaged as much as 8 degrees F below normal. Occasional frost and near-freezing temperatures were noted as far south as California's Central Valley. Precipitation fell heavily in the Pacific Northwest and maintained favorable high-elevation snow packs from the Cascades to the northern Rockies. Although some beneficial snow fell as far east and south as Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, extremely dry conditions persisted across the Southwest. Unfavorably dry weather also continued on the High Plains, except in a swath across Wyoming, South Dakota, and northern Nebraska, where heavy snow fell. Although temperatures averaged more than 10 degrees F below on parts of the northern High Plains, the drought-stressed winter wheat crop lost a portion of its protective snow cover. Meanwhile, hot, windy conditions briefly overspread the southern Plains, lifting temperatures above 90 degrees F in some locations and reducing topsoil moisture availability for wheat development. In contrast, late-week showers dampened the Ohio Valley's winter wheat crop, which began to break dormancy. Elsewhere in the Midwest, heavy snow blanketed much of the northwestern Corn Belt, maintaining stressful March conditions for livestock, following a remarkably mild winter. Across the South, much warmer weather (up to 10 degrees F above normal in the southern Mid-Atlantic region) replaced the previous week's record-setting chill. In addition, widespread rain fell prior to midweek in conjunction with a slow-moving storm system, and again at week's end during the approach of a cold front. Weekly rainfall totaled 4 inches or more in many locations from the northern Delta region to the southern Appalachians, halting fieldwork and causing some flash flooding. In the East, topsoil moisture improvements continued to reduce the threat of wildfires and aid pastures and winter grains, despite underlying long-term drought. As warm weather expanded across the South and East, more than two dozen daily-record highs were established from March 12-16. Gusty winds and blowing dust preceded the warm air's arrival across portions of New Mexico and western Texas on March 11, lowering visibilities to as little as 2 miles in some locations, including Midland, TX. By March 13, daily-record highs included 79 degrees F in Albuquerque, NM, and 87 degrees F in Amarillo, TX. Elsewhere in western Texas, highs soared to 92 degrees F in Childress and 95 degrees F in Wink. Record warmth shifted into the Southeast by week's end, where Saturday's highs climbed to 87 degrees F in Savannah, GA, and Florence, SC. Meanwhile, cooler air overspread areas from the Plains westward, setting more than a dozen daily-record lows on March 15 and 16. On Friday in southern California, freezes were noted nearly to the Pacific Coast in locations such as Paso Robles (25 degrees F) and Santa Maria (31 degrees F). A day later, daily-record lows included -1 degree F in Chadron, NE, -2 degrees F in Eureka, NV, and -9 degrees F in Rawlins, WY. From March 13-15, a narrow band of heavy snow spread from the northern Intermountain West to the upper Great Lakes region, including northern Nebraska and portions of South Dakota. On Thursday, the 15-inch total in Kennebec, SD, shattered their single-day snowfall record for March (previously 12 inches on March 17, 1957). In eastern Wyoming, storm-total snowfall reached approximately 2 feet at Lusk. Elsewhere, March 13-15 snowfall included 10.8 inches in Minneapolis, MN, 12.0 inches in Valentine, NE, and 19.0 inches in Huron, SD. Marquette, MI, was blanketed by 17.9 inches of snow, leaving their month-to-date snowfall at 59.3 inches and seasonal total at 276.8 inches. Marquette's former seasonal snowfall record was 272.2 inches, set in 1996-97. Farther south, two rounds of heavy rain struck roughly the same areas from the northern Delta region to the southern Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians. For example, Memphis, TN, netted 2.56 inches on March 11-12 and 5.28 inches from March 15-18. The second rainfall event produced even heavier amounts farther east, including 6.72 inches in Knoxville, TN, from March 16-18. Some of the rain fell at high enough rates to cause significant flash flooding, such as the 24-hour (March 16-17) total of 5.24 inches in Wise, VA. In Hawaii, sporadic, locally heavy showers intensified and became more widespread across the western islands at week's end. On March 16-17, 24-hour rainfall totals included 5.24 inches in Kokee, Kauai, and 3.70 inches on the Ahuimanu Loop, near Kaneohe, Oahu. Meanwhile, temperatures contrasted sharply across Alaska for the second consecutive week, ranging from more than 10 degrees F above normal across westernmost portions of the State to as much as 10 degrees F below normal across southeastern areas. Only light precipitation was observed through midweek, when heavier amounts began to overspread southwestern Alaska. Cold Bay netted 3.53 inches of rain on March 14-15, including a daily-record total of 2.29 inches on the latter date. Later, Kodiak Island received 2.41 inches (8.8 inches of snow) on March 16-17. National Agricultural Summary March 11 - 17, 2002 Heavy rain drenched soils and halted fieldwork in interior areas of the Mississippi Delta, most of the Tennessee Valley, and adjacent parts of the Southeast. Along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coastal Plain, widespread, light rainfall briefly delayed field preparations, but provided much-needed topsoil moisture for winter grains and forages. However, subsoil moisture reserves remained very short. Above-normal temperatures also contributed to favorable growing conditions in the Southeast, although overnight lows were near or below freezing in interior areas. Dry weather favored fieldwork in the southern Great Plains, but topsoil moisture shortages limited progress. Wind and blowing soil also hampered fieldwork. In Texas, corn and sorghum planting was scattered and slow, but remained ahead of normal. Corn emergence lagged behind normal due to topsoil moisture shortages. Dry soils stressed winter wheat throughout the Great Plains, but moisture supplies were adequate for the soft red winter wheat in the Corn Belt. Cold and windy weather provided harsh conditions for winter wheat fields across the northern Great Plains. One percent of the Texas wheat crop was headed, compared with the average of 2 percent. Stormy weather returned to the Pacific Northwest, providing beneficial ground water supplies and mountain snowpack accumulations. In California, below-normal temperatures limited crop development. Rain briefly delayed field and orchard work in scattered areas of California's valleys. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on March 26, 2002. 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