We 1 (12-06) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 27, 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. 52 December 17 - 23, 2006 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: A major storm across the Nation's mid-section provided much-needed moisture for winter wheat but severely stressed livestock and caused significant travel and electrical disruptions due to snow, ice, and wind. Blizzard conditions engulfed the central High Plains and adjacent Rockies on December 20 -21. Prior to reaching the Plains, the storm provided the season's first widespread precipitation in the Four Corners region and drew chilly air across the West. There were four consecutive mornings (December 18-21) of frost and temperatures near to slightly below the freezing mark in the San Joaquin Valley and several other valleys across interior southern California, although readings were generally not low enough to cause significant concern for citrus and winter vegetables. Meanwhile, showery weather persisted in the Northwest, maintaining abundant to locally excessive soil moisture for winter grains. Farther east, rain boosted soil moisture in the western Corn Belt but maintained soggy conditions in some fields and feedlots across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes region. Toward week's end, rain expanded across the South and East, including drought-affected sections of the southern Atlantic States. Early in the week, record warmth in the South, Midwest, and East contrasted with chilly conditions in the West Coast States. On December 17, highs of 84 degrees F in Brownsville, TX, and 54 degrees F in Grand Rapids, MI, contrasted with a daily-record low of 25 degrees F in Redding, CA. Later, there were four consecutive light freezes from December 18-21 in California's San Joaquin Valley at locations such as Bakersfield (31, 30, 30, and 32 degrees F) and Fresno (31, 30, 30, and 31 degrees F). Elsewhere in California, Lancaster posted three consecutive daily-record lows (18, 16, and 15 degrees F) from December 18-20. Farther east, highs soared above 70 degrees F on December 18 across the Mid-Atlantic States and the interior South, reaching daily-record levels in Washington, DC (74 degrees F), Chattanooga, TN (73 degrees F), and more than two dozen other locations. In Wisconsin, Green Bay posted 8 consecutive days (December 10 -17) with highs of 40 degrees F or greater, tying its December record first set from December 16-23, 1931. Meanwhile, a major storm took aim on the Nation's mid-section. Heavy snow blanketed the central High Plains, while ice accumulations were particularly severe in central Nebraska. In southeastern Wyoming, Cheyenne (12.5 inches on December 20) experienced its snowiest December day during the 92-year period from 1915-2006, surpassing the 11.6-inch standard established on December 27, 1979. Farther south, 20.7 inches of snow buried Denver, CO, in a 24-hour period on December 20 -21, representing the city's greatest storm total since March 17-19, 2003, when 31.8 inches fell. It was also Denver's second-highest December storm total behind the 23.8 inches that mostly fell on December 24, 1982. In addition, northerly winds gusted to 55 m.p.h. in Denver and 54 m.p.h. in Cheyenne at the height of the storm on December 20. In Nebraska, North Platte noted its third-wettest December day (1.39 inches, including freezing rain and 2.6 inches of snow) on the 20th, behind 1.99 inches on December 21, 1877, and 1.41 inches on December 5, 1913. North Platte's December 19-21 storm-total precipitation reached 1.88 inches, including 8.1 inches of snow and as much as one-half inch of ice. Elsewhere in Nebraska, the 20th was the second-wettest December day on record in locations such as Kearney (1.16 inches, behind only 2.53 inches on December 2, 1933) and Broken Bow (1.11 inches, behind only 2.14 inches on December 5, 1913). The majority of the Midwest received rain from the major storm. In eastern Nebraska, Omaha and Norfolk continued to await measurable snowfall and set records for the latest date of the season's first accumulation. Previous records were established in Omaha on December 23, 1939, and in Norfolk on December 22, 2001. Meanwhile in Des Moines, IA, season-to-date snowfall through Christmas Day totaled 0.4 inch, tied with 1966 and 1933 for its third-lowest such amount on record behind a trace in 1939 and 0.3 inch in 1889. Farther east, December 22 was the third-wettest December day (1.24 inches) in Green Bay, WI, behind 1.94 inches on December 14, 1891, and 1.57 inches on December 27, 1904. Wausau, WI, collected 1.47 inches, including 6.0 inches of snow, on December 22, representing its wettest December day (previously, 1.42 inches on December 12, 1965). In the East, daily-record totals for December 22 topped 2 inches in locations such as North Myrtle Beach, SC (2.77 inches), and Augusta, GA (2.65 inches). New Bern, NC (1.42 and 2.25 inches on December 22 and 23, respectively), noted consecutive record totals. Some heavy rain also fell at week's end across southern Texas, where record amounts for December 23 included 2.01 inches in Harlingen and 1.04 inches in San Antonio. Meanwhile, weekly rainfall of 0.69 inch lifted Binghamton, NY, to its wettest year on record (49.34 inches, or 130 percent of normal, through December 23), surpassing the 1996 annual record of 49.00 inches. Mild weather across northern and southeastern Alaska contrasted with cold conditions elsewhere. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal in southwestern Alaska, where Cold Bay tied a monthly record low (-1 degree F on December 22; previously, -1 degree F on December 30, 1979). Meanwhile, significant snow fell across southern Alaska. Daily-record totals included 21.0 inches (on December 19) in Valdez and 10.0 inches (on December 23) in Anchorage. In Valdez, the 2-day (December 19-20) snowfall reached 31.8 inches, while Kodiak set a pair of daily snowfall records (7.0 and 7.3 inches on December 19 and 22, respectively). Farther south, mild, mostly dry weather prevailed in Hawaii. Although scattered showers dotted windward locations, daily amounts in excess of an inch were uncommon. On the Big Island, Hilo netted 1.60 inches of rain from December 16-18. National Agricultural Summary December 18 - 24, 2006 Highlights: Except for the northern Great Plains and Southwest, some moisture was experienced nearly nationwide with the heaviest precipitation occurring in the Pacific Northwest, Gulf Coast, central Great Plains, and central Rocky Mountains. In the central Rocky Mountains freezing rain and heavy snowfall blanketed the region. Temperatures were below normal from the Pacific Coast inland to the Intermountain region, while above normal temperatures existed throughout the rest of the Nation. From the Corn Belt eastward, temperatures averaged 9 degrees Fahrenheit or more above normal. Although some major winter wheat areas received adequate snow cover, the majority of the crop was left exposed to cold weather. In California, planting of small grains was ongoing, however, growth was slowed due to cold temperatures. Freezing temperatures in California may have also caused some damage to the citrus fruits. Further assessments will be necessary to determine the extent of damage. Arizona's alfalfa harvest was active on over a quarter of the State's acreage, while small grain planting continues and cotton harvest was 97 percent complete. Late week rains in Florida aided small grain growth in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula, while drier weather in southern areas kept vegetable planting and harvesting on schedule. 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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