We 1 (12-03) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 16, 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 Brian T. Young at (202) 720-7621, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 90, No. 50 December 7 - 13, 2003 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A midweek storm maintained wet conditions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern States, causing rapid snow melt and local flooding in the wake of December 4-7 snow accumulations. Additional precipitation began to overspread the East at week's end. Meanwhile in the South, rain showers aided pastures and winter grains, although low temperatures (as much as 7 degrees F below normal) slowed crop development. In Florida's citrus belt, cool weather helped to condition trees for potential cold outbreaks. Farther north, widespread precipitation (both rain and snow) fell across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, maintaining adequate to locally excessive soil moisture for winter wheat. Snowfall was the heaviest at midweek from Missouri northward into the upper Mississippi Valley, briefly disrupting travel and stressing livestock. A second round of snow overspread the Midwest toward week's end, blanketing the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Parts of the Plains also experienced two episodes of highly beneficial snowfall. The greatest mid- and late-week accumulations were noted in winter wheat areas of northern Oklahoma and much of Kansas, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 9 degrees F below normal. Farther south, however, mostly dry, windy weather persisted in West Texas' wheat areas, leaving the poorly established crop in need of moisture. In the West, heavy precipitation persisted in the Pacific Northwest and continued for a second consecutive week in northern and central California. Farther inland, precipitation across the interior Northwest aided winter grains and boosted high-elevation snowpacks. Only light precipitation fell, however, in drought-affected areas from the Southwest to the central and southern Rockies. Early- week, heavy snow lingered in New England, where daily-record totals for December 7 were set in Maine locations, such as Caribou (9.7 inches) and Bangor (9.0 inches). Meanwhile, warm weather produced several daily-record highs on the Plains in advance of an approaching storm. On December 7, records included 83 degrees F in Childress, TX, and 66 degrees F in Valentine, NE. A day later, daily-record highs soared to 79 degrees F in Wichita Falls, TX, and 72 degrees F in Oklahoma City, OK. However, measurable snow (0.2 inch) fell in Oklahoma City on December 9, a day after the record high, followed by another 1.7 inches on December 12-13. Elsewhere in Oklahoma, Tulsa received a two-storm total of 5.2 inches, while Missouri amounts included 11.4 inches in Springfield, 8.7 inches in Columbia, and 7.1 inches in Kansas City. The first storm also sparked heavy precipitation in the Midwest, beginning on December 9. Daily-record rainfall totals for that day included 1.86 inches in Ottumwa, IA, and 1.08 inches in Moline, IL. Ottumwa's sum was its second-highest daily total on record for December, behind only 1.90 inches on December 7, 1980. Rockford, IL, collected 1.04 inches on December 9 and 1.60 inches on December 10, setting rainfall record for both dates. Farther west, Sioux Falls, SD, netted 8.0 inches of snow on December 9, a record for the date, while Minneapolis, MN, received 9.5 inches. Heavy rain swept into the East on December 10-11, setting numerous daily rainfall records and causing widespread flash flooding. In North Carolina, Elizabeth City (2.05 inches) posted a daily record for December 10, followed the next day by rainfall records in locations such as Mt. Pocono, PA (3.00 inches), and Trenton, NJ (1.72 inches). With a 1.03-inch rainfall on December 10-11, Washington, DC, marked its wettest year since the beginning of the 20th century, vaulting farther beyond its 1948 total of 57.54 inches. Washington's year-to-date total through December 13 reached 58.69 inches, or 156 percent of normal. On December 14, much of the East was again pelted by heavy precipitation (an event that will be covered in next week's summary). In the West, precipitation was heavy along the northern Pacific Coast and widespread farther east across the interior. Scattered daily-record totals included 0.44 inch (on December 7) in Lewistown, MT, 0.36 inch (on December 11) in Las Vegas, NV, and 0.49 inch (on December 12) in Winnemucca, NV. Low snow levels resulted in a few daily-record amounts, including 1.3 inches in Pendleton, OR, on December 10. Especially stormy conditions were noted in the West Coast States at week's end (December 13), when Redding, CA, clocked a wind gust to 56 m.p.h. Farther north, Florence, OR, measured 3.37 inches of rain in a 24-hour period on December 12-13. Mild weather (as much as 8 degrees F above normal) returned to Alaska, accompanied by widespread, generally light precipitation. Meanwhile, rain subsided in Hawaii, following additional heavy showers through midweek. On Oahu, 24-hour totals on December 7-8 included 10.69 inches at Schofield Barracks (East), 8.77 inches in Moanalua, and 8.22 inches in Mililani. Farther east, Hana, Maui, netted 3.74 inches in 24 hours on December 9-10. National Agricultural Summary December 8 - 14, 2003 Highlights: During the week, temperatures fluctuated widely with changing weather patterns but were generally below normal across the Atlantic Coast, Southeast, Mississippi Delta, and Great Plains. Weekly low temperatures were below freezing across most of the Nation, with only the extreme Gulf and Pacific Coasts holding above freezing. The Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains had mostly above-normal temperatures, although low temperatures were below 20 degrees Fahrenheit across much of that area. Precipitation was moderate across most of the East Coast, with a combination of snow and rain causing some flooding in the middle Atlantic Coast States. The Southeast and Mississippi Delta also received moderate rainfall. Welcomed precipitation, including some snow, fell in parts of the western and central Corn Belt. Most of the Great Plains remained dry, although the southeastern portions of the region had some moderate rain and snowfall. Winter wheat benefited from light precipitation in the Pacific Northwest. In the Rocky Mountains, precipitation was light to moderate and widely scattered. Snow cover extended southward to encompass most of the Corn Belt, northern and central Great Plains, northern and central Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest, providing some protection for winter wheat in those regions. Harvesting of vegetables, citrus, and other fruits was active in all States reporting for the week. Sugarcane harvest continued in Florida and Texas. Peanut harvest was at or near completion. Cotton harvest neared completion in most States but still lagged behind normal. Winter wheat planting was active in California and nearly complete in Texas, where lack of moisture continued to stress the crop. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on December 23, 2003. 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