We 1 (1-08) a Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 2, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Dawn Keen at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 95, No. 1 December 23 - 29, 2007 For additional information, call (202) 720-2397 or (202) 720-7919. HIGHLIGHTS: A series of fast-moving storm systems maintained a broad swath of unsettled weather across the U.S. Only the northern Plains and an area stretching from southern California to the Rio Grande Valley were bypassed by the spate of storms. In fact, cool, occasionally windy weather affected southern California and the Southwest, where some producers took measures to protect temperature-sensitive winter crops. In contrast, a late-week system capped a stormy December in the Northwest and a wintry month from the central and southern Rockies into the Northeast. Northwestern storminess maintained soggy conditions near the Pacific Coast but boosted high-elevation snow packs farther inland. Late in the week, snow returned to parts of the central and southern Plains, increasing stress on livestock but further improving soil moisture in the winter wheat belt. By December 28, snow arrived in the northern and western Corn Belt, while rain developed farther south. Elsewhere, Southeastern winter grains and cool-season pastures continued to benefit from frequent showers, despite lingering long-term drought. Some of the week's heaviest rain fell on December 26 in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain and during the weekend in association with a nearly stationary front draped from the southern Mid-Atlantic States to the central Gulf Coast. Early in the week, heavy snow lingered across the upper Midwest, where La Crosse, WI, netted 11.4 inches on December 22-23. The last time La Crosse received heavier snow during a December storm was December 3, 1990, when 14.4 inches fell. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, daily snowfall records for December 23 included 8.0 inches in Rhinelander and 7.5 inches in Wausau. As much as 18 inches of snow fell in the vicinity of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Upper Midwestern wind gusts associated with the snow storm approached 50 m.p.h. Farther east, high winds swept across the Midwest and Northeast, preceded by heavy rain showers. On December 23,daily-record rainfall totals reached 1.51 inches in Atlantic City, NJ, and 1.35 inches in Williamsport, PA, while winds were clocked at 68 m.p.h. in Chicago (Midway), IL, and 62 m.p.h. in South Bend, IN. Farther west, heavy snow blanketed the Northwest, while high winds raked parts of southern California. In Washington, Plain received 14.0 inches of snow in a 24-hour period on December 22-23. Farther south, in the Oregon Cascades, more than one foot of new snow helped to boost the December 24 snow depth to 102 inches at Mt. Hood Meadows. Meanwhile in southern California, the temperature briefly spiked to a daily-record level (80 deg F on December 24) in Santa Barbara. On December 24-25, a high-wind event across southern California produced wind gusts in excess of 100 m.p.h. in locations such as Thousand Oaks (107 m.p.h.) and Whitaker Peak (102 m.p.h.). Christmas Day featured snowfall totals of 5.5 inches in Lander, WY, and 4.1 inches in Scottsbluff, NE. Through December 25, Lander's month-to-date snowfall climbed to 34.6 inches (368 percent of normal). Meanwhile, Denver, CO, netted 7.8 inches of snow in an 18-hour period on December 24-25. Farther west, daily-record lows for December 26 included 0 deg F at the Grand Canyon (North Rim), AZ, and 34 deg F in Camarillo, CA, while December 27 minimum records were set at Sandberg, CA (20 deg F) and McNary, AZ (-2 deg F). With ideal radiative cooling conditions (clear skies, calm winds, and 7 inches of snow on the ground), Alamosa, CO, posted 3 consecutive daily-record lows (-23 deg F, -29 deg F, and -33 deg F) for December 27-29. In advance of a late-week storm, chilly air also invaded the Nation's mid-section, especially Texas, where Victoria (31 deg F), Waco (24 deg F), Austin/Bergstrom (21 deg F), and San Angelo (17 deg F) collected daily-record lows on December 27. Meanwhile, temperatures near the freezing mark (32 deg F) were reported in winter agricultural areas of southern California and the Desert Southwest, especially on December 27-28. Citrus trees benefited from a period of cool weather preceding the most recent cold outbreak, but some winter crop producers took protective measures to guard against freeze damage. Around mid-week, low pressure developed along a stalled front off the southern Atlantic Coast and tracked northeastward, producing a quick shot of beneficial rain to drought-stricken areas of the eastern Carolinas and southeastern Virginia. December 26 totals included 1.37 inches at Norfolk, VA, a record 1.19 inches at Florence, SC, 0.91 inches at Raleigh-Durham, NC, and 0.76 inches at Fayetteville, NC. Later in the week, a system intensified in the southern Great Plains and tracked northward, dropping light rain (generally less than 0.5 inches) on much of the Delta, Southeast, Tennessee and western Ohio Valleys, and mid-Atlantic, and light to moderate snow on the upper Midwest. Milwaukee, WI, set a December 28 snowfall record of 5.5 inches. As the low moved into southeastern Canada, its trailing cold front stalled across the Southeast. Waves of low pressure formed along the front, bringing beneficial showers and thunderstorms to portions of the Southeast starting on Friday and continuing into Sunday. Atlanta, GA, received 1.23 inches on December 28 while Albany, GA, recorded 2.28 inches a day later. 2-day rainfall totals (Dec. 28-29) included 2.89 inches at Dothan, AL, and 1.93 inches at Mobile, AL. Ahead of the front, new daily record highs were tied or set for December 28 at Miami, FL (83 deg F), and Macon, GA (76 deg F), and on December 29 at New Bern, NC (78 deg F), Orlando, FL (84 deg F), and Key West, FL (82 deg F). Warm weather prevailed in Hawaii, with showers continuing in windward locations. On the Big Island, Hilo received 3.57 inches of rain from December 23-26, and another 2.92 inches from December 27-29, lifting its month-to-date total to 17.35 inches (175 percent of normal). Rainfall was particularly heavy on December 24-25, when 24-hour Big Island totals reached 5.45 inches in Glenwood and 3.43 inches in Mountain View. Elsewhere on the Big Island, about 6 inches of snow whitened the summit of Mauna Kea on December 24-25, with some drifting snow reported on Christmas morning. Farther north, Alaskan weekly temperatures moderated from last week's bitterly cold readings, generally averaging within 5 deg F of normal, but Arctic air was still to be found. McGrath plunged to -36 deg F on December 26 while Northway dropped to -34 deg F a day later. Some stormy weather affected southern Alaska, where Kodiak tallied a daily-record snowfall (14.7 inches) on December 24. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary December 24 -30, 2007 Highlights: Precipitation in the west was heaviest in the Pacific Northwest, with coastal areas of Washington and Oregon receiving more than 4 inches during the week, surrounded by a band of lesser amounts falling further inland. Elsewhere in the west, precipitation levels in the northern Intermountain and the northern Rocky Mountain regions reached up to 4 inches. The remainder of the west was dry, except isolated areas of light moisture dotting the central Rocky Mountain region. Minimal precipitation fell across the Great Plains with the exception of eastern Texas, where slightly larger amounts fell. Elsewhere, from the Delta eastward, moisture fell with some areas of the Southeast receiving 2 to 4 inches. Florida remained dry except in the panhandle, while farther north, in the Atlantic Coastal States, precipitation fell, with New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and southern Maine receiving up to 4 inches during the week. Temperatures remained cooler than normal in the west, except in the northwest, where isolated areas experienced normal temperatures. The northern Rocky Mountains, the entire southwest, and the central and southern Great Plains regions also experienced cooler than average temperatures. In the central Rocky Mountains, temperatures were between 9 and 15 degrees below normal. In the north, from the Corn Belt eastward, and in the south, from the Delta eastward, temperatures remained above normal. Snow cover remained over the majority of winter wheat acreage requiring protection from brisk temperatures. Areas without cover continued to experience above normal temperatures. However, snow cover would aid in protecting the crop from cold and wet weather, as temperatures were beginning to fall to lower levels. In Arizona, temperatures were up to 10 degrees below normal across the State. Cotton harvest was wrapping up while vegetable harvesting and small grain planting remained active. California spring alfalfa was emerging as irrigation continued and herbicide and pesticide applications were ongoing. Sugarbeets were in various stages of development with insect, weed, and disease control continuing. For California fruit and nut crops, pruning and herbicide and pesticide treatments were ongoing while mandarin, lemon, pumelo, and navel orange harvest continued. Herbicides and insecticides continued to be applied to vegetable fields. In Florida, sugarcane harvest was active in the Lake Okeechobee area, while vegetable harvest and planting continued. Strawberry plant development progressed, while grape tomatoes neared the end of fall harvest. After a brief holiday break, harvest of grapefruit and tangelos was expected to gain momentum in the upcoming weeks. Common activities for growers included spraying, mowing, fertilizing, and irrigating. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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