We 1 (3-07) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 13, 2007, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Theresa Holland at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 94, No. 11 March 4 - 10, 2007 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397. Highlights: Following stormy weather in late February and early March, relatively tranquil conditions prevailed nearly nationwide. However, a late-season cold snap from the upper Midwest into the Northeast contrasted with a sudden warm spell from the High Plains westward. Weekly temperatures averaged more than 15 degrees F below normal in parts of the Northeast to at least 10 degrees F above normal on the northern High Plains. Significant precipitation was confined to the Pacific Northwest, where locally heavy rain and high-elevation snow fell. Meanwhile, very warm, mostly dry prevailed across the southern half of the West, increasing the likelihood of below-normal spring and summer runoff in many river basins. In addition, parched southern California experienced an increased threat of wildfires. Farther east, warmth melted the Plains' remaining snow cover, except roughly along and east of the Missouri River. Hard red winter wheat began to break dormancy under generally favorable conditions, despite lingering sub-soil moisture shortages in two primary areas from central Texas northward into south-central Kansas and from western Nebraska northward into southern and eastern Montana. In contrast, extremely wet conditions and lowland flooding persisted in much of the central and eastern Corn Belt, despite a week of beneficially dry weather. The northern Corn Belt remained deeply covered by as much as 1 to 2 feet of snow, but considerable melting occurred as temperatures rebounded elsewhere in the Midwest. Farther south, a brief cool spell slowed winter grain growth, but Southern planting and other spring fieldwork continued with few delays under mostly dry conditions. However, parts of Florida and the western slopes of the Appalachians remained unfavorably dry. Two primary waves of precipitation spread across the Northwest. In Washington, daily-record totals included 0.60 inch (on March 7) in Walla Walla and 1.97 inches (on March 10) in Quillayute. Only light precipitation fell elsewhere, although some mid-week snow blanketed the Midwest and Northeast. March 7 snowfall totals included 3.0 inches in Youngstown, OH, and 2.0 inches in Harrisburg, PA. Despite only light precipitation in the Midwest, many rivers crested or continued to rise. The Illinois River at Beardstown, IL, crested 5.33 feet above flood stage on March 7, but remained more than 10 feet below the record-high level established in May 1943. A few days later, the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel, IL, crested 2.93 feet above flood stage on March 10. However, that level was well below both the record-high level (14.95 feet above flood stage on January 13, 2005) and the recent high-water mark (10.29 feet above flood stage on January 22, 2007). Elsewhere, cold weather in the Northeast contrasted with a rapid warming trend across the remainder of the nation. Chilly conditions lingered early in the week across Texas, where daily record-tying lows included 19 degrees F (on March 4) in Midland and 32 degrees F (on March 5) in Corpus Christi. Meanwhile, some of the coldest March air on record settled into the Great Lakes and Northeastern States. Daily-record lows for March 6 included -17 degrees F in Alpena, MI, and -28 degrees F atop Mt. Mansfield, VT. A day later, record lows for March 7 dipped to -24 degrees F in St. Johnsbury, VT, and 0 degrees F in Worcester, MA. Elsewhere in Massachusetts, Boston's minimum of 5 degrees F (on March 9) represented its lowest March reading since March 4, 1950, when the low was 2 degrees F. In New York, Binghamton's March 6 high of 7 degrees F tied a monthly record, previously set on March 18, 1967. Two days later, record-low monthly maximum temperatures were also established in Maine locations such as Houlton (4 degrees F; previously, 6 degrees F on March 9 and 12, 1984) and Bangor (8 degrees F; previously, 13 degrees F on March 18, 1967, and earlier). In contrast, Fullerton, CA, logged daily record-tying highs on March 4 and 6 (84 and 88 degrees F, respectively). Fullerton later posted a daily-record high of 97 degrees F on Sunday, March 11, when a nearby wildfire charred more than 2,000 acres in Anaheim Hills and Orange Park Acres (Orange County). Elsewhere in southern California, daily-record highs reached 90 degrees F in locations such as Santa Ana (on March 6) and Imperial (on March 8). Very low humidity readings accompanied the warmth in California and the Southwest. In fact, the minimum dewpoint temperature of -11 degrees F on March 5 in Phoenix, AZ, was its lowest such reading since December 22, 1977. In addition, very dry conditions persisted across the Southwest. In downtown Los Angeles, precipitation totaled a record-low 2.42 inches (20 percent of normal) from July 1 - March 10. Los Angeles' seasonal (July 1 - June 30) precipitation record for dryness was established in 2001-02, when 4.42 inches fell. Across the remainder of the Western and Central States, scattered daily-record highs included 70 degrees F (on March 6) in Olympia, WA; 70 degrees F (on March 7) in Chadron, NE; and 66 degrees F (on March 7) in Miles City, MT. An impressive, late-season cold wave continued in Alaska, holding weekly temperatures at least 10 degrees F below normal across most of the mainland. During the 22-day period from February 17 - March 10, the average low temperature in Fairbanks was -29.8 degrees F. Only 1932 (-35.0 degrees F) and 1956 (-30.1 degrees F) had a lower average minimum temperature during that span. Elsewhere in Alaska, Galena posted a daily record-tying low of -38 degrees F on March 7. While mostly dry accompanied interior Alaska's cold weather, heavy snow persisted in southeastern parts of the State. Juneau netted 37.4 inches of snow (796 percent of normal) during the first 10 days of the month, including 14.7 and 7.8 inches from March 4-6 and 8-10, respectively. The last time Juneau received more than 3 feet of snow in March was 1971, when 50.6 inches fell. Farther south, showers briefly intensified across the western and central Hawaiian islands. On March 9-10, 24-hour rainfall totals included 4.24 inches in Kokee, Kauai, and 2.31 inches at Maui's Oheo Gulch. Meanwhile on the Big Island, Hilo's March 1-10 rainfall totaled just 1.20 inches (28 percent of normal). National Agricultural Summary March 5 - 11, 2007 Highlights: Temperatures averaging 5 to 15 degrees F above normal throughout the northern Rocky Mountains, the High Plains, and across Kansas and Oklahoma, contrasted with averages 5 to 15 degrees F below normal from the Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions during the week. Significant precipitation was confined to the Pacific Northwest. Warm, dry weather throughout most of the Great Plains promoted small grain growth and development in the southern half of the region, and slowly melted snow cover further north. Milder weather across the Corn Belt eased stress on livestock, but melting snow contributed to lowland flooding in portions of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. In the South, dry weather facilitated recovery efforts from the previous week's storms, and was favorable for field preparation and planting across the region. In California, warm, dry weather was beneficial for growth of grasses, small grains, and forage crops, as well as a variety of vegetables. Bloom started for cherries, and was well-advanced for other stone fruit and almonds. Cotton planting was underway in the Imperial Valley. In Arizona, cotton planting remained active in the Yuma area. In Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, warm weather promoted growth of winter wheat and other small grains. Winter wheat was in mostly fair to good condition across the three State region, as the crop was developing at a near normal rate in Texas and Kansas, and somewhat ahead of normal in Oklahoma. Also in Texas, planting of corn and sorghum was underway, while harvest of sugarcane, citrus, and a variety of vegetables continued. 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