We 1 (2-08) Weekly Weather And Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 26, 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 February 17 - 23, 2008 Highlights: A late-week storm hammered California and the western Great Basin with high winds and heavy precipitation. California bore the brunt of the storm, which downed some trees and caused local power outages. Two earlier Western storms had produced generally light precipitation, primarily from California to the Four Corners region. Meanwhile, cold, mostly dry weather prevailed on the Plains, except for periods of light precipitation in eastern Kansas and environs. Most of the Plains' winter wheat continued to lack a protective snow cover, although bitterly cold conditions were generally confined to areas east of the primary wheat belt. On February 20, temperatures as low as -35 degrees F were reported in North Dakota. Farther east, bitterly cold weather also affected the upper Midwest, where the persistence of below-normal temperatures and a substantial snow cover maintained stress on livestock. February 21 featured the week's coldest weather across the Midwestern soft red winter wheat belt, although several inches of fresh snow helped to insulate the crop from temperatures near 0 degrees F in the eastern Corn Belt. Elsewhere, two rounds of heavy rain provided additional drought relief in the Southeast, while wintry weather caused travel disruptions from the Midwest into the Northeast. As much as 6 to 10 inches or rain soaked northern Florida and southern Georgia. Farther north, 6- to 12-inch snowfall totals were noted toward week's end in parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic States and southern New England. Significantly warmer-than-normal conditions were confined to southern portions of Texas and Florida, where weekly temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F above normal. Much of the remainder of the country experienced a cold week, with readings averaging at least 15 degrees F below normal in parts of the upper Midwest. Near-normal temperatures were confined to the Pacific Northwest, the High Plains, the Deep South, and northern New England. During the afternoon and night of February 17-18, as many as four dozen tornadoes swept across the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, northern Florida, and eastern North Carolina. More than 200 tornadoes have struck the U.S. in February, compared to the 2005-07 average of just 25. One tornado carved a 14.5-mile path across Autauga County, AL, causing at least 50 injuries and damaging or destroying some 200 homes and 40 businesses. Farther north, rain and snow fell from the Midwest into the Northeast. Des Moines, IA (5.7), netted a daily-record snowfall on February 17, followed the next day by records in locations such as Green Bay, WI (6.6 inches), and Muskegon, MI (5.6 inches). During the same event, daily-record precipitation amounts included 1.44 inches (on February 17) in Peoria, IL, and 3.03 inches at Cape Hatteras, NC. Warmth in advance of the storm resulted in several daily-record highs on February 18, including 66 degrees F in Allentown, PA; 72 degrees F in Wilmington, DE; and 88 degrees F in Melbourne, FL. For Melbourne, it was the eighth day in February with a high of 80 degrees F or greater. In contrast, bitterly cold air spread across the Midwest and Northeast in the storm's wake. Daily-record lows for February 20 included -34 degrees F in Devils Lake, ND, -28 degrees F in Watertown, SD, and -26 degrees F in Alexandria, MN. Elsewhere on the 20th, Grand Forks, ND, reported a high of -10 degrees F and a low of -33 degrees F. A day later, record lows for February 21 included -31 degrees F in Crookston, MN, and -26 degrees F in Antigo, WI. Farther south, heavy rain returned to the Southeast, where record totals for February 21 included 4.99 inches in Tallahassee, FL, and 1.55 inches in New Iberia, LA. There were also as many as a half-dozen tornadoes reported in Louisiana on February 21. Heavy rain lingered into February 22, when Meridian, MS, netted a daily-record total of 3.20 inches. Meridian's February 21-22 rainfall total reached 5.41 inches, while Tallahassee's 3-day (February 21-23) sum climbed to 7.05 inches. On February 23, monthly record highs were tied in Florida locations such as Miami and Vero Beach (both 89 degrees F). Farther north, however, another round of snow and ice spread from the Midwest into the Northeast. Daily-record snowfall totals for February 22 included 2.2 inches in Springfield, IL; 6.0 inches in New York's Central Park; and 7.0 inches in Bridgeport, CT. Meanwhile, wet, windy weather swept into California and the Great Basin. On February 23-24, peak wind gusts in California's Central Valley included 53 m.p.h. in Bakersfield and 54 m.p.h. in Redding. The Sierra Nevada received about of 5 inches of water equivalent (melted snow) during the week-long series of storms, boosting the range's average to 29 inches, according to the California Department of Water Resources. In a typical year, 29 inches of snow water equivalent accumulates in the Sierra Nevada by April 1, the traditional peak snow pack date. By week's end, precipitation totals climbed to February-record levels in locations such as Worcester, MA (8.80 inches; previously, 8.37 inches in 1981); Concord, NH (7.93 inches; previously, 7.77 inches in 1981); and Springfield, MO (6.33 inches; previously, 5.77 inches in 2001). Meanwhile, the season-to-date snowfall in Madison, WI, climbed to 86.7 inches, well above the record of 76.1 inches set from July 1, 1978 - June 30, 1979. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, Green Bay's total reached 73.9 inches, representing its snowiest season since 1996-97. Farther east, Caribou, ME, experienced its snowiest July 1 - February 23 period on record, with a total of 137.8 inches (previously, 129.5 inches in 1954-55). Meanwhile in Michigan, Grand Rapids' month-to-date snowfall of 35.6 inches edged its February 1900 record of 35.5 inches. Winter snowfall reached 88.9 inches in Grand Rapids, eclipsing its December 1951 - February 1952 record of 85.1 inches. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. National Agricultural Summary February 18 - 24, 2008 As California sugarbeets were growing well, fertilization, irrigation, and cultivation continued. Herbicide applications were ongoing across California small grain acreage. Alfalfa was growing slowly under cooler conditions and efforts to control weeds continued. Arizona producers nearly completed the planting of small grain acreage behind the pace of last year and the 5-year average. Sixty-five percent or more of the Arizona Durum wheat and barley acreage had emerged while alfalfa harvest was active on three fourths of the acreage. Texas sugarcane harvest continued in the Lower Valley while recent showers in the Blacklands and the Panhandle was beneficial for small grain development. Irrigation continued in many wheat and oat fields across the State due to limited moisture levels. Cotton producers in the Panhandle prepared their land for planting, while in the Lower Valley region, planting was underway. Recent rainfall in the Blacklands and South Central regions delayed corn planting and sorghum planting was underway in the Lower Valley and Coastal Bend regions. Georgia producers were top-dressing small grains, fertilizing, and spraying for weed control. The Florida Panhandle received heavy rains leaving wheat fields soaked while sugarcane harvest continued in the Everglades. Harvest of vegetables continued in Arizona, California, Texas, and Florida. Chemical applications continued to control weeds, insects, and mildew while irrigation continued to promote the growth and development of early planted vegetables. Producers were preparing for spring vegetable planting in most growing areas from California to Georgia. In California, vineyard pruning was mostly complete while frost remained a concern as bud break was expected. Dormant sprays and pre-emergent herbicides were applied to some stone fruit orchards as weather permitted. Pesticides were applied and brush was windrowed and shredded. California strawberries were growing well and blueberry bushes were being planted. In Florida, watermelon planting began and strawberry harvest continued. Citrus harvest continued in Florida and hedging, topping, and clean-up followed. Early fertilizer applications continued, along with irrigation in anticipation of early bloom. California navel orange groves experienced rind puff and fruit drop as harvest continued. Harvest was also active in mandarin, minneola, lemon, pummelo, and grapefruit groves. Texas producers in the Lower Valley continued to harvest their citrus. 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. 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