We 1 (2-04) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 3, 2004, 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 91, No. 5 January 25 - 31, 2004 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Bitterly cold air made its strongest push of the season across the northern Plains and the Midwest, holding weekly temperatures 10 to 30 degrees F below normal and lowering readings to near -40 degrees F in the Red River Valley and adjacent areas. In fact, low temperatures in much of Minnesota and North Dakota ranged from -20 to -40 degrees F on 4 consecutive mornings, severely stressing livestock and disrupting daily activities. Farther east, extremely cold weather persisted for a fourth consecutive week from the lower Great Lakes region into the Northeast, where temperatures averaged as much as 15 degrees F below normal. Snow and ice accumulations accompanied the cold weather east of the Appalachians, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region, while locally heavy snow squalls blanketed areas downwind of the unfrozen parts of the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, winter agricultural regions of southern Texas and peninsular Florida escaped much of the cold weather, although scattered frost and near-freezing temperatures were reported as far south as central Florida on January 29. Prior to the cool air's arrival, rain aided pastures and winter grains in the Southeast. Toward month's end, beneficial rainfall returned to parts of the South, boosting weekly rainfall above 2 inches in parts of the central Gulf Coast region and Florida. Elsewhere, temperatures on the central High Plains were not nearly as low as those observed farther north and east. Nevertheless, some winter wheat on the central High Plains was exposed to readings near -5 degrees F on January 27 and 28. Before the cold air arrived, snow blanketed much of the northern and east-central Plains. Although the central High Plains' cold outbreak was short-lived, the region continued to suffer from sub-soil moisture shortages and a poorly established wheat crop. In contrast, mild weather melted much of the snow cover at low elevations in the Northwest. Nevertheless, prospects for Northwestern winter grains continued to improve due to significant increases in soil moisture since autumn. West of the Cascades, however, heavy rain and melting snow caused some river flooding. Mostly dry weather prevailed elsewhere from the Rockies westward, maintaining concerns about low reservoir levels in the Southwest and Intermountain West. On January 25, the minimum of -7 degrees F in Cleveland, OH, was its lowest temperature since February 4, 1996, when it was -10 degrees F. In Michigan, Flint's January 25 minimum of -16 degrees F was its lowest reading since February 10, 1994, when it was -19 degrees F. Farther south and west, moisture overran the cold air, resulting in daily-record precipitation totals for January 25 in Nashville, TN (1.38 inches), and Hastings, NE (0.58 inch, in the form of snow, sleet, and freezing rain). In addition, daily-record snowfall totals for January 25 included 8.6 inches in Sioux City, IA, and 4.0 inches in Asheville, NC. East of the Appalachians, ice accumulations were especially severe in the southern Mid-Atlantic region. In contrast, mild weather prevailed in Florida, where daily records included 82 degrees F (on January 26) in Jacksonville and 84 degrees F (on January 27) in West Palm Beach. Later in the week, cooler air and locally heavy showers arrived in Florida. Apalachicola, FL, noted a daily-record low (28 degrees F) on January 29, followed by consecutive daily-record totals on January 31 and February 1 in Florida locations such as Vero Beach (1.23 and 1.24 inches) and Fort Lauderdale (1.16 and 3.62 inches). Meanwhile, extremely cold air reached the northern Plains by January 27, resulting in daily-record lows in locations such as Grand Forks, ND (-31 degrees F), and Sisseton, SD (-21 degrees F). The chill continued to intensify, producing three more record lows in Grand Forks from January 28-30 (-37, -39, and -43 degrees F). Sisseton also noted another daily-record low, -25 degrees F on January 30. Grand Forks' January 30 low also set a monthly and all-time record (previously, -40 degrees F on February 1, 1996) for the airport site. Cold air spread eastward at month's end, producing daily-record lows on January 31 in locations such as Lincoln, IL (-14 degrees F), Cincinnati, OH (-12 degrees F), Indianapolis, IN (-11 degrees F), and Elkins, WV (-11 degrees F). Occasional snow accompanied the northern Plains' bitterly cold weather. In North Dakota, Williston received 7.8 inches of snow in a 24-hour period on January 30-31. In addition, Williston netted daily-record totals on January 24 (5.6 inches), 25 (2.8 inches), and 27 (4.3 inches), contributing to its second-highest January snowfall on record (25.4 inches, behind only 28.3 inches in 1999). The last 8 days of the month featured 24.6 inches of snow in Glasgow, MT, capping the city's snowiest January on record (32.9 inches; previously, 28.8 inches in 1916). Glasgow also set a record for its greatest seasonal snowfall (61.1 inches through January 31 (61.6 inches; previously, 60.9 inches in 1951-52). Farther south, however, season-to-date snowfall totals through January were as low as 10.4 inches in Denver, CO, and 8.9 inches in Kansas City, MO. Season-to-date snowfall was somewhat higher in the upper Midwest, including Minnesota totals of 22.7 inches in Rochester and 36.2 inches in Minneapolis. Those totals represented a significant improvement from the 2002-03 upper Midwestern "snow drought," when snowfall through January was 9.7 inches in Rochester and 10.1 inches in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, lake-enhanced snowfall persisted downwind of the Great Lakes. Duluth, MN, received 26.1 inches on January 25-26, contributing to its second-snowiest January on record (42.3 inches) behind 46.8 inches in 1969. Farther east, January snowfall records were established in locations such as Gaylord, MI (74.0 inches; previously, 64.0 inches in 1971), and Rochester, NY (61.3 inches; previously, 60.4 inches in 1978). Gaylord also experienced its snowiest month, breaking the November 1893 record of 68.0 inches. Snow squalls were especially intense downwind of Lake Ontario, where Parish (Oswego County), NY, received 86 inches from January 28-31. Parish's snowfall was especially heavy on January 29, when 1 foot fell in just 90 minutes. Nearby Minetto, NY, recorded 67 inches during the last 4 days of the month in the wake of a 26-inch accumulation from January 22-24. Farther west, Northwestern weekly rainfall included 6.23 inches in Astoria, OR, and 3.81 inches in Olympia, WA. Much of the rain fell on January 28-29, totaling 4.72 inches in Astoria and 2.76 inches in Olympia. Hawaii's most impressive rains fell across the Big Island on January 25-26 and 28-29. The first event featured 24-hour rainfall totaling 7.15 inches in Mountain View and 6.79 inches in Piihonua. Mountain View netted another 4.47 inches on January 28-29. Elsewhere on the Big Island, Hilo's 4.96-inch total in 24 hours on January 25-26 boosted its monthly rainfall to 12.21 inches (125 percent of normal). Nearly all of Hilo's rain, 11.34 inches, fell during the last 13 days of January. The January 25-26 event also dumped heavy rain farther west, where 24-hour totals included 2.99 inches at Maui's Hana Airport and 3.67 inches in Kamalo, Molokai. Meanwhile, weekly temperatures ranged from 6 degrees F above normal in far northern and southwestern parts of Alaska to more than 20 degrees F below normal across the southeastern interior part of the State, where the month ended on a bitterly cold note. January 31 Alaskan lows included -55 degrees F in Tok and -49 degrees F in Northway. January also ended on a dry note in Alaska, leaving monthly totals as low as 0.04 inch (6 percent of normal) in Bethel and 0.25 inch (24 percent) in King Salmon. Above-normal January precipitation was confined to the southern fringe of Alaska, where Juneau netted 5.89 inches (122 percent of normal), including 34.2 inches of snow (118 percent). National Agricultural Summary January 26 - February 1, 2004 Highlights: A series of Arctic cold fronts brought cold weather, snow, and ice to the middle and northern Atlantic Coast States. This same system caused bitterly cold weather in the Corn Belt and northern and central Great Plains, where temperatures remained below freezing all week in most areas. Snow cover in those areas expanded to protect more of the winter wheat crop, but much of the crop was still exposed to the cold. Freezing temperatures reached the Gulf Coast but missed the citrus-producing areas of Florida, Texas, and California. Temperatures were mostly above normal across the Pacific Northwest and northern and central Rockies. Moderate to heavy rain fell across the Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast. Heavy precipitation fell in the Pacific Northwest, with a wintry mix early in the week giving way to rain later. The Southwest and western areas of the Great Plains remained mostly dry, though some pockets of light precipitation occurred. In Florida, harvest of citrus crops, sugarcane, and vegetables was active, though precipitation caused some fieldwork delays. Widespread rainfall replenished soil moisture across most of Georgia, but low temperatures caused some winter damage to small grains. In Texas, cold, dry weather continued to stress small grain crops. In Arizona, small grain seedings neared completion and vegetable and citrus harvest was active. Clearer skies and sufficient soil moisture in California promoted the development of small grains, and fieldwork was active for vegetable crops. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12 p.m. ET on February 10, 2004. 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