We 1 (3-05) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 1, 2005, 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 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 92, No. 9 February 20 - 26, 2005 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A round of heavy rain capped southern California's wet winter, triggering additional flooding and mudslides before drier weather arrived at midweek. Locally heavy precipitation also fell elsewhere in the Southwest, maintaining abundant high-elevation snowpacks and replenishing drought-lowered reservoirs. In sharp contrast, mild, mostly dry weather perpetuated a season-long pattern in the Northwest, where meager mountain snow packs are not expected to provide much spring and summer runoff. Farther east, mild, mostly dry weather prevailed on the Plains, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 8 degrees F above normal. Although showers were confined to southern portions of the region, moisture reserves remained adequate to abundant in most winter wheat areas on the central and southern Plains. However, wheat-related concerns on the northern High Plains included soil moisture shortages, the lack of a protective snow cover, and recent temperature extremes. Meanwhile, snow blanketed much of the Great Lakes region early in the week, followed by cold weather and periodic snow showers. Elsewhere in the Midwest, sporadic showers maintained soggy conditions in feedlots and winter wheat fields across the southern and eastern Corn Belt. Unsettled weather also prevailed in the Northeast, where frozen precipitation caused occasional travel disruptions. Eastern temperatures ranged from 12 degrees F below normal in northern New England to as much as 10 degrees F above normal in Georgia. Heavy rain accompanied the Southeastern warmth, boosting soil moisture reserves in preparation for spring planting. In southern Florida, rain showers eased irrigation demands and reduced the threat of wildfires. Early in the week, snow fell from the upper Midwest into the Northeast, while showery weather persisted in the Southwest. Snowfall records for February 20 were established in locations such as Rochester, MN (4.3 inches), and Green Bay, WI (4.1 inches). A day later, Bridgeport, CT, collected a daily-record total of 5.5 inches. Farther south, rainfall records for February 21 were established in parts of the Southwest and Southeast. In southern California, February 21 records included 2.90 inches in Sandberg, 2.50 inches in Fullerton, and 2.18 inches in San Diego. On the same day, Southeastern records reached 2.10 inches in Chattanooga, TN, and 1.80 inches in Augusta, GA. Southern California's heavy precipitation lingered into February 23, when daily records included 0.86 inch in Ramona and 0.51 inch in Thermal. During the 8-month period from July 2004 - February 2005, downtown Los Angeles, CA, collected rainfall totaling 33.87 inches (314 percent of normal). Los Angeles' only higher annual (July-June) totals were 38.18 inches in 1883-84 and 34.84 inches in 1889-90. Similarly, San Diego, CA, received 19.64 inches (263 percent of normal) during the 8 months ending in February, trailing only the annual totals of 25.97 inches in 1883-84 and 24.74 inches in 1940-41. Elsewhere in southern California, Opids Camp (in the San Gabriel Mountains near Mount Wilson) tallied 22.20 inches of rain during the 7-day period ending February 23, boosting its season-to-date precipitation to more than 105 inches (nearly three times the annual normal). Farther inland, Las Vegas, NV, completed its wettest winter on record, with 6.62 inches of rain (394 percent of normal), eclipsing a standard previously set with 5.86 inches from December 1992 - February 1993. By midweek, locally heavy showers developed across the South-Central United States, while snow returned to the Northeast. Oklahoma City, OK, netted a daily-record rainfall (1.44 inches) on February 23, followed the next day by a record total in Victoria, TX (1.84 inches). February 24 also featured daily snowfall records in locations such as Harrisburg, PA (8.0 inches), and Bridgeport, CT (3.5 inches). Pittsburgh, PA (5.6 inches on February 24), observed its highest daily total of the season, surpassing the 5.3-inch total from January 22. Newark, NJ, reported daily snowfall records on consecutive days (4.3 and 2.4 inches on February 24 and 25, respectively). Cold air entrenched across the Northeast contributed to the region's snowfall. On February 24, Massena, NY (-15 degrees F), tallied a daily-record low. Meanwhile, large temperature swings were observed in the Northwest due to the unusually dry weather pattern. On February 23, Olympia, WA, collected a daily-record low of 20 degrees F, while nearby locations such as Hoquiam, WA (64 degrees F), and Astoria, OR (68 degrees F), tallied daily-record highs. Elsewhere in Oregon, Tillamook (67 and 66 degrees F on February 23 and 24, respectively) posted consecutive daily-record highs. Warmth was also observed in the South, where record highs included 82 degrees F (on February 21) in Baton Rouge, LA, and 83 degrees F (on February 22) in Albany, GA. On the northern High Plains, Cut Bank, MT (60 degrees F on February 25), also notched a record high. Late in the week, a storm system emerged from the Southwest. On February 25, Midland, TX, netted a daily-record rainfall of 0.48 inch. A day later, record totals for February 26 were recorded in Texas cities such as Corpus Christi (1.43 inches) and Victoria (1.22 inches). Very heavy rain erupted in the Southeast on February 27, when daily-record totals reached 5.17 inches in Sarasota-Bradenton, FL, and 3.83 inches in Brunswick, GA. More details on this storm system, which produced heavy snow in the Northeast and high winds in the Atlantic Coast States, will appear in next week's summary. Mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii, but scattered showers returned late in the week. Through February 27, month-to-date rainfall reached 15.19 inches (179 percent) in Hilo, on the Big Island, although only 0.94 inch fell from February 20-26. Farther north, mild weather prevailed across much of Alaska, boosting weekly temperatures as much as 14 degrees F above normal. King Salmon, AK, opened the week with consecutive daily-record highs (45 and 43 degrees F on February 20 and 21, respectively). Mostly dry weather prevailed across the Alaskan mainland, but late-week snowfall in southern Alaska produced a daily-record total of 4.3 inches on February 25 in Kodiak. National Agricultural Summary February 21 - 27, 2005 Highlights: A mass of arctic air moved south from Canada, pushing average temperatures below normal in the northern Corn Belt and upper and middle Atlantic Coast States. Temperatures were mostly above normal elsewhere. Conditions were notably drier in the Ohio River Valley, with only light precipitation. However, more dry weather is needed for land preparation to progress. Moderate precipitation across most of the Delta and Southeast hampered fieldwork. In the Southwest, another round of thunderstorms continued to replenish irrigation reserves but contributed to flooding in southern California. Mostly dry conditions prevailed across the Pacific Northwest, northern Rocky Mountains, and northern and central Great Plains, leaving much of the winter wheat crop without a protective snow cover. In the southern Great Plains, light to moderate precipitation slowed fieldwork in many areas. Citrus harvest was active in California, with some delays due to wet weather. Arizona growers harvested a variety of vegetable and citrus crops. The cotton harvest remained incomplete in Texas due to continued soggy conditions, while corn and sorghum planting had begun in southern and central areas. In Georgia, early spring fruit trees approached full bloom, while field preparation for summer crops was active but hindered by rainfall. Rains in Florida were beneficial for citrus crops but slowed harvest of some vegetables. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. 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