We 1 (3-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 4, 2003, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Terry P. O'Connor at (202) 720-4288, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 90, No. 9 February 23 - March 1, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Cold weather prevailed nearly nationwide, including areas from the Rockies westward. Widespread rain and snow showers accompanied the chilly weather across southern California and the Four Corners region, further improving Southwestern topsoil moisture reserves and high-elevation snow packs. However, despite recent precipitation, most of the West neared the end of a disappointing wet season that has failed to provide significant, large-scale relief from long-term drought. Farther east, the brunt of the latest Arctic outbreak affected the Plains and Midwest, where weekly temperatures ranging from 10 to 24 degrees F below normal increased livestock stress. Temperatures fell to 0 degrees F or below as far south as northern Oklahoma and the Ohio Valley, and were as low as -35 degrees F on the northern Plains, but snow insulated the majority of the winter wheat crop. However, areas of concern for winter wheat included the northern High Plains, where the snow cover was shallow and patchy, and southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, where temperatures ranged from 5 to 15 degrees F in the absence of snow cover. Wheat was still dormant on the northern and central Plains, but had begun to develop during a mid-February warm spell on the southernmost Plains. Additional snow fell from the central Plains into the Northeast, while cool, rainy weather hampered fieldwork across the South. Freezing rain caused some travel and electrical disruptions across the interior South and southern Mid-Atlantic States. Weekly rainfall ranged from 1 to 3 inches in many locations from the Delta to the Carolinas, while 2 to 6 inches fell from the central Gulf Coast to southern Georgia and northern Florida. Warm weather was confined to Florida, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 7 degrees F above normal and highs approached 90 degrees F. Early in the week, the coldest air of the winter swept across parts of the Plains and Midwest. On February 24, some locations in Montana and Wyoming noted their lowest temperatures in 4 to 6 years. Sheridan, WY, recorded -20 degrees F, their lowest reading since December 21, 1998, when the minimum temperature was -26 degrees F. In Montana, Billings' minimum of -17 degrees F was their lowest since a reading of -19 degrees F on January 27, 1997. On February 24-25, Montana locations reporting consecutive daily-record lows included Wisdom (-49 and -41 degrees F), West Yellowstone (-45 and -42 degrees F), and Butte (-37 and -26 degrees F). Farther south and east, consecutive records were established in locations such as Lamoni, IA (-3 and -5 degrees F), and St. Joseph, MO (-2 and -6 degrees F). By February 26-27, bitterly cold weather shifted into the Northeast, where Massena, NY (-24 and -16 degrees F), tallied consecutive record lows. In contrast, very warm weather prevailed across southern Florida, resulting in consecutive daily-record highs (88 degrees F on February 28 and 87 degrees F on March 1) in West Palm Beach. Heavy precipitation overspread the Southwest on February 25, resulting in daily-record totals in locations such as San Diego, CA (1.48 inches), and Las Vegas, NV (0.77 inch). It was San Diego's highest daily rainfall since 1.59 inches fell on February 21, 2000. Las Vegas' rain helped to boost the monthly total to 2.13 inches (309 percent of normal), their sixth-greatest February sum and highest since 2.21 inches fell in 2001. Las Vegas also received measurable rainfall on 6 consecutive days from February 24 - March 1, tying their all-time record set in April 1943 and January 1949. Farther east, snow, freezing rain, and rain fell during the mid- to late-week period, capping a very wet, wintry February across the interior South, southern Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic States, and southern New England. Jackson, KY, netted a monthly total of 7.89 inches (214 percent of normal), breaking their February 1989 record of 7.61 inches. Charleston, WV, measured 7.46 inches (234 percent of normal), their wettest February since 8.10 inches fell in 1887. Farther north and east, February was the snowiest month on record in locations such as Boston, MA (41.6 inches), Baltimore, MD (40.5 inches), and Wilmington, DE (31.6 inches). Elsewhere, it was the snowiest February on record in Indianapolis, IN (21.7 inches), Youngstown, OH (26.4 inches), and Pittsburgh, PA (25.3 inches). Tulsa, OK (10.5 inches), also set a February snowfall record, including 7.0 inches on February 23. Wichita, KS, received 10.2 inches on February 23, their ninth-highest storm-total snowfall on record and greatest since 11.3 inches fell on March 19, 1998. Mostly light to moderate shower activity was observed in Hawaii, primarily across windward locations. Some of the heaviest rain fell on February 23-24, when 24-hour totals reached 1.09 inches in Wainiha, Kauai, and 1.61 inches on the Big Island at Glenwood. Meanwhile in Alaska, unusually warm weather boosted weekly temperatures as much as 25 degrees F above normal. The warmth continued to reduce low-elevation snow depths across southern Alaska, where Anchorage reported only a trace of snow on the ground on March 1 and received just 3.3 inches (17 percent of normal) during the first 2 months of the year. Elsewhere in south-central Alaska, February precipitation in Valdez totaled 14.22 inches (257 percent of normal), including 92.5 inches of snow. In contrast, drier-than-normal weather prevailed in southeastern Alaska, where a very dry month in Juneau (February precipitation totaled 1.44 inches, or 36 percent of normal) left their season-to-date snowfall at 39.0 inches (48 percent of normal). National Agricultural Summary February 24 - March 2, 2003 Rain benefited soil moisture for many California field crops, but restriction of fieldwork activities due to the rainfall was generally minor. Blooming continued in tree fruit and almond orchards. Freeze damage to blooms from recent cold weather was reported in early stone fruit varieties. Weather conditions for almond pollination remained less than ideal. Wet conditions slowed winter vegetable harvesting in southern California. Significant precipitation that fell in the Southwest helped alleviate dry soil conditions. Record to near-record low temperatures covered the northern Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains as dry conditions with below- normal snowpack persisted. Due to the lack of snow cover, winter wheat and alfalfa in some areas were exposed to potentially damaging cold weather. Winter made a comeback in Texas as record cold, ice, and snow blanketed the State. Significant moisture fell in north-central, south-central, and east Texas, and a sheet of ice covered most areas with accumulations ranging from less than a inch to almost 4 inches. Areas too wet for weeks were still suffering from saturated conditions, and virtually no fieldwork was possible. Extremely cold weather in the plains and north Texas could adversely affect the wheat in locations that did not have snow or ice to protect the crop. Texas wheat conditions were rated at 74 percent of normal, compared with 50 percent last year. The extreme cold stressed livestock and producers were breaking ice so their stock could drink. The weather was especially stressful on cows that were calving and goats that were kidding. Across the Southeast, rain, freezing rain, and snow were reported. Dry weather gave way to sporadic and sometimes heavy showers over much of Florida. The week began with warm days and mild nights over the citrus areas then ended generally overcast and rainy with highs in the low 80s degrees F. Virtually all of Florida's citrus belt recorded below-average rainfall for February. However, groves and trees were in very good condition for the bloom cycle. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on March 11, 2003. 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