We 1 (2-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 28, 2006, 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 93, No. 9 February 19 - 25, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Cooler-than-normal conditions prevailed nearly nationwide for the second consecutive week, following a 2-month spell of remarkably mild winter weather. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees F below normal in several areas, including parts of western Nebraska and northeastern Texas. In California's Central Valley, producers monitored the effects of several freezes (between February 16 and 22) on blooming nut trees. Meanwhile, significantly warmer-than-normal weather was confined to Florida, where temperatures averaged more than 5 degrees F above normal in some locations. In the West, light precipitation was confined to the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies, and southern New Mexico. However, New Mexico's showers provided only minimal relief from developing Southwestern drought, which continued to severely stress pastures and rangeland. Farther east, the Plains' rain fell primarily south of key winter wheat areas of Texas and Oklahoma. As a result, drought stress on pastures and winter grains persisted on the southern Plains and began to expand northward, becoming more apparent in Colorado and Kansas. Elsewhere across the Nation's mid-section, a snow cover continued to protect winter grains from weather extremes in western Nebraska and environs, while milder weather and snow showers aided the northern Plains' wheat in the wake of the recent cold snap. Elsewhere, frequent showers dotted the South, while cool, mostly dry weather prevailed in the Midwest. Rain provided drought relief west of the Delta--especially in northeastern Texas--and maintained generally favorable moisture reserves in the Southeast. Across the eastern Corn Belt, chilly weather helped to freeze soils and ease previously muddy field conditions. Very cold weather lingered nearly nationwide early in the week. Alliance, NE, posted five consecutive daily-record lows (-30, -36, -16, -16, and -9 degrees F) from February 17-21, including its fifth lowest temperature since 1890. Sub-zero daily records for February 19 were also set in locations such as Redmond, OR (-5 degrees F), Burlington, CO (-5 degrees F), and Beckley, WV (-3 degrees F). Elsewhere on February 19, Huntsville, AL (16 degrees F), noted its lowest temperature since December 25, 2004, while Houston, TX (38 degrees F), observed its first maximum temperature below 40 degrees F since December 24, 2004. A day later, Western record lows for February 20 fell to -33 degrees F at Nevada's Wildhorse Reservoir and 25 degrees F in Redding, CA. Chilly weather persisted through mid-week in California, where records for February 22 included 27 degrees F in Ojai and 32 degrees F in Bakersfield. In contrast, record warmth briefly expanded across the South. Highs climbed to daily-record levels for February 22 in New Orleans, LA (82 degrees F), and Mobile, AL (80 degrees F), followed the next day by records in Florida locations such as Vero Beach (87 degrees F) and Apalachicola (78 degrees F). Mid- to late-week Southern warmth preceded the arrival of locally heavy rain. On February 25, daily-record totals topped 2 inches in Vicksburg, MS (2.74 inches), and Monroe, LA (2.53 inches). Farther west, 3.51 inches of rain drenched Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, on February 24-25, exceeding the city's 2.94-inch total during the preceding 115 days. Sporadic showers also affected the South earlier in the week, when Greenwood, MS (1.09 inches), collected a daily-record rainfall for February 22. Later, snow across the North on February 24 resulted in an 11.1-inch total in Duluth, MN, and a daily-record sum (3.5 inches) in Harlem, MT. Elsewhere, some light precipitation spread across the Southwest during the early- to mid-week period. In southern California, February 17-19 snowfall totaled as much as 10 inches on Mt. Baldy, near Los Angeles. Farther east, light rain on February 23-24 in Carlsbad, NM, ended a 117-day spell (October 29 - February 22) without measurable precipitation. Albuquerque, NM, was poised to complete its driest November-February period on record, while Tulsa, OK, was on the verge of its driest winter. Albuquerque's precipitation totaled 0.14 inch (7 percent of normal) from November 1 - February 25, well shy of its 1903-04 standard of 0.30 inch. Tulsa received 1.59 inches (28 percent of normal) from December 1 - February 25, slightly below its 1962-63 winter mark of 1.76 inches. Meanwhile, Phoenix, AZ, completed its 130th day without a drop of rain on February 25 (previously, 101 days from September 23, 1999 - January 1, 2000), but remained well short of its longest spell without measurable precipitation (160 days from December 30, 1971 - June 6, 1972). Widespread showers fell in Hawaii, especially across the western islands prior to mid-week. In fact, 24-hour (February 20-21) totals on Kauai included 17.94 inches on Mt. Waialeale and 8.01 inches at Hanalei River. Elsewhere on Kauai, Lihue's weekly rainfall of 7.28 inches was aided by daily-record totals on February 21 (1.80 inches) and 23 (3.46 inches). Farther east, Oahu's Wilson Tunnel received a weekly sum of 15.44 inches, more than 70 percent (10.87 inches) of which fell in a 48-hour period from February 19-21. Meanwhile, cold, mostly dry weather in southeastern Alaska contrasted with mild conditions and occasional snow across the mainland. Weekly temperatures ranged from more than 5 degrees F below normal in southeastern Alaska to as much as 15 degrees F above normal elsewhere. Daily-record snowfall totals scattered across Alaska included 3.0 inches (on February 20) in Bettles and 4.4 inches (on February 25) in McGrath. Fairbanks measured consecutive daily-record snowfalls on February 25-26, totaling 8.7 inches. Elsewhere in Alaska, a daily-record high (33 degrees F on February 19) in Bettles contrasted with a daily-record low (5 degrees F on February 25) in Valdez. National Agricultural Summary February 20 - 26, 2006 Highlights: Below-normal temperatures again prevailed across most of the Nation. Only in parts of the Southeast and Southwest were temperatures above normal. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain fell across most of the Southeast and Mississippi Delta. Light to moderate precipitation in Texas eased soil moisture shortages somewhat, but most areas still needed more rainfall. Light to moderate precipitation also fell across the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains, while the remainder of the Rocky Mountains and Southwest had only isolated areas of light precipitation. The Corn Belt and northern and central Great Plains remained mostly dry, with only light snowfall in the northernmost parts of the regions. Snow cover in these areas remained light to nonexistent, leaving winter wheat vulnerable to the sub-zero temperatures that occurred across the northern portions of both regions. In Florida, warmer weather increased crop growth and development in vegetable crops, while sugarcane harvesting continued around Lake Okeechobee. Producers in Georgia were busy with equipment maintenance and soil preparation. Some corn growers expected to begin planting in the next few weeks. In Texas, condition of winter grains improved in some area due to rainfall, but both winter wheat and oats remained mostly in very poor condition. Harvest of citrus crops was active in California, with good yields reported. Citrus and other fruit growers took action to protect their crops from freezing temperatures. 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.nass.usda.gov. 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.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. 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