We 1 (12-02) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 3, 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. 49 November 24 - 30, 2002 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Mostly dry weather promoted fieldwork nearly nationwide. Across the South, where frequent autumn rainfall caused major fieldwork delays, cotton and soybean harvesting approached completion, while winter wheat planting accelerated. However, cool weather (weekly temperatures averaged generally 3 to 11 degrees F below normal) slowed the growth of Southern pastures, and mid- to late-week frosts and freezes may have burned back emerging winter grains as far south as areas from northeastern Texas to northern Florida. Meanwhile, a continuation of cold weather (as much as 7 degrees F below normal) increased stress on Midwestern livestock and slowed or halted winter wheat development from the middle Mississippi Valley to the lower Great Lakes region. Farther west, cool weather returned to the southern Plains (as much as 7 degrees F below normal), but mild weather prevailed for the second consecutive week on the northern Plains (up to 7 degrees F above normal). Despite near- to above-normal temperatures, winter wheat began to enter dormancy on the northern and central High Plains, where drought-reduced soil moisture reserves limited wheat's autumn establishment and raised concerns about the crop's winter hardiness. Elsewhere, late-week showers boosted topsoil moisture reserves in parts of southern California and the Desert Southwest. However, most areas from the Rockies westward continued to suffer from the effects of long-term precipitation deficits, including drought-reduced irrigation reserves and severely stressed rangelands. In addition, a portion of the Northwestern winter wheat crop remained poorly established due to autumn dryness. Early in the week, locally heavy snow lingered across the central and northern Rockies and adjacent High Plains. On November 24, Cheyenne, WY, received 5.2 inches of snow, a record for the date. The only other precipitation highlights were late-week showers in the Southwest and a mid-week snow storm from the central Appalachians to southern New England, trailed by lake-effect snow showers. In Phoenix, AZ, where the monthly temperature of 66.9 degrees F (5.3 degrees F above normal) was their third-highest November value, all but 0.02 inch of the 0.42-inch November total fell in 24 hours on November 29-30. Farther east, 9.0 inches of snow blanketed Windsor Locks, CT, on November 27, boosting the monthly total to 11.0 inches (their second-highest November total behind 15.6 inches in 1938). Farther west, Buffalo, NY, netted 5.3 inches of snow during the last 5 days of November, followed by a 9.3-inch snowfall on December 1. Cold air gradually eroded on the Plains, shifting into the eastern half of the Nation. Lingering cold in Rapid City, SD, resulted in a daily-record low of -2 degrees F on November 25. In Little Rock, AR, the first freeze of the season (29 degrees F) occurred on November 27, exactly 2 weeks later than normal but only the second time in the last 5 years that the first sub-freezing reading of the cold season was observed before December 1. By November 28, daily-record lows included 12 degrees F in Windsor Locks, CT, and 13 degrees F in Mansfield, OH. A day later, temperatures fell to daily-record levels in locations such as Charlotte, NC (20 degrees F) and Jacksonville, FL (31 degrees F). Jacksonville's freeze, their first of the year, arrived more than 1 week ahead of their December 8 average. In contrast, more than two dozen daily-record highs were set or tied across the northern Plains and the West on November 27-28. Thanksgiving Day (November 28) featured record highs in locations such as Salinas, CA (79 degrees F); Rapid City (68 degrees F); Miles City, MT (64 degrees F); and Bismarck, ND (62 degrees F). A mostly dry week capped a relatively quiet month across Hawaii, where Hilo (on the Big Island) netted only 2.86 inches of rain (18 percent of normal) during November. Hilo's total marked their driest month since only 2.28 inches fell in January 2001 and lowest November total since a November record-low sum of 1.01 inches was observed in 1989. Toward week's end, however, some heavy showers developed across the western Hawaiian islands, paced by 24-hour (November 28-29) totals of 3.02 inches in Wainiha, Kauai, and 2.16 inches at Oahu's Wilson Tunnel. Locally heavy showers spread to the Big Island on November 29-30, resulting in 24-hour totals of 1.90 inches in Laupahoehoe and 1.39 inches in Honokaa. For the tenth consecutive week, unusually mild weather prevailed across Alaska. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 30 degrees F above normal in parts of interior and southern Alaska, aided by several daily-record highs. Anchorage posted daily-record highs on November 26 and 30 (55 and 46 degrees F), including their latest reading at or above 55 degrees F (previously, 60 degrees F on November 12, 1929). Aided by seven daily-record highs, Juneau marked their second-warmest November on record (40.1 degrees F, or 6.9 degrees F above normal), behind 40.9 degrees F in 1976. Similarly, November temperatures averaged 19.2 degrees F (16.9 degrees F above normal) in Fairbanks, second only to an average of 20.0 degrees F in 1979. Although wet conditions persisted across southern Alaska, much of the mainland remained dry. Monthly rainfall reached 20.47 inches in Pelican, nearly half (10.00 inches) of which fell on November 26-27. Meanwhile, Kodiak netted 15.92 inches (240 percent of normal), breaking their November 1983 record of 15.36 inches. In contrast, only 0.05 inch (7 percent of normal) fell in Fairbanks. National Agricultural Summary November 25 - December 1, 2002 Mostly dry weather prevailed across the Nation during the week, supporting rapid cotton harvest in the South and fall fieldwork in the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and Pacific Coast States. However, light rain briefly delayed harvest and fieldwork in the lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and along the western Gulf Coast. Scattered, light precipitation also hindered fall fieldwork in the eastern Corn Belt and Northeast but provided beneficial moisture for winter wheat. Afternoon temperatures were warm enough to support vegetative growth of winter wheat in most areas of the Great Plains and Corn Belt, but development was limited to a few hours each day. In the Pacific Northwest, cold weather and dry soils provided a harsh environment for the winter wheat crop. In the Southwest, above-normal temperatures promoted development of fruit and vegetable crops, winter grains, and forages. In the Florida Panhandle, frost and seasonal cold weather halted growth of forages, but in the Peninsula, citrus groves remained in good condition. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 p.m. ET on December 10, 2002. 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