We 1 (2-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 3, 2009, 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 January 25 - 31, 2009 Highlights: A major ice storm across parts of the Mid-South and the Ohio Valley disrupted travel and caused widespread power outages. Freezing rain accumulations in excess of 1 inch were reported in some areas from the Ozark Plateau into the middle Ohio Valley, and cold weather in the storm's wake hampered recovery efforts. In contrast, warm weather returned to the lower Southeast, including Florida, following the January 21-23 freezes. Farther west, cold but mostly dry weather prevailed across the Plains and the upper Midwest, although early-week snow in western Nebraska and environs helped to protect winter wheat from local temperatures below -20 degrees F. On the southern Plains, light precipitation provided only temporary relief to drought-stressed winter grains. Elsewhere, significant Western precipitation was confined to the central Rockies and parts of the Intermountain region. Mostly dry weather returned to California and neighboring areas, leaving the water equivalent of the Sierra Nevada snow pack at just 10 inches (59 percent of average for the end of January). In addition, the end-of-year storage in California's 151 intrastate reservoirs stood at just 68 percent of the December 31 average, down from 120 percent at the end of 2006, according to the state's Department of Water Resources. Early in the week, bitterly cold weather persisted in New England, while precipitation developed across parts of the High Plains and Intermountain West. On January 25, daily-record lows were set in Bangor, ME (-19 degrees F), and Montpelier, VT (-16 degrees F). Even colder weather gripped northern New England on January 26, when daily-record lows in Maine plunged to -36 degrees F in Houlton, -33 degrees F in Caribou, and -26 degrees F in Bangor. Farther west, daily-record precipitation totals for January 25 included 0.76 inch (2.8 inches of snow) in Salt Lake City, UT, and 0.38 inch in Scottsbluff, NE. January 23-26 snowfall totals locally topped 3 feet in Utah's Wasatch Range, where Alta reported 37 inches. During the same 4-day period, Scottsbluff netted 13.2 inches of snow. That snow cover was beneficial for winter wheat in western Nebraska, where daily-record lows included -22 degrees F (on January 26) in Scottsbluff, -23 degrees F (on January 27) in Chadron, and -29 degrees F (on January 27) in Alliance. Extremely cold weather also prevailed across the interior Northwest, where Idaho Falls, ID (-29 degrees F) notched a record low for January 27. In Wyoming, lows on January 27 included -37 degrees F in Greybull and -39 degrees F at Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Farther south, the low of 6 degrees F in Oklahoma City, OK, on January 28 represented the lowest reading there since December 9, 2005, when it was also 6 degrees F. With moisture overrunning the cold air, snow, sleet, and freezing rain developed from the southern Plains into the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States. Serious icing developed across the Mid-South on January 27, when daily-record precipitation totals reached 1.90 inches in West Plains, MO, and 1.64 inches (4.1 inches of snow) in Louisville, KY. Freezing rain accumulations in excess of 1 inch were reported from northern Arkansas and extreme southern Missouri into parts of the lower and middle Ohio Valley. According to media reports, some 1.3 million homes and businesses lost electricity at the height of the ice storm. Just to the north, in central Ohio, Columbus noted consecutive daily-record snowfall totals on January 27- 28, totaling 7.4 inches. Elsewhere, snowfall records for January 28 included 9.3 inches in Syracuse, NY; 9.1 inches in Burlington, VT; and 8.0 inches in Indianapolis, IN. In contrast, warm weather prevailed across the Deep South, where Baton Rouge, LA (81 degrees F), posted a daily-record high for January 27. Two days later, records in Florida for January 29 soared to 87 degrees F in Melbourne and 85 degrees F in Orlando. Record-setting warmth also developed in California, where highs included 87 degrees F (on January 30) in Santa Ana and 77 degrees F (on January 31) in Red Bluff. Downtown Los Angeles, CA, experienced a January record-tying 12 days of 80-degree warmth (also achieved in 2003), aided by highs of 80 degrees F on January 29 and 30. Late in the week, warmth expanded as far east as the Plains and the Midwest. On the last day of January, highs climbed to 73 degrees F in Topeka, KS, and 68 degrees F in Imperial, NE. Mitchell, SD, with a daily-record high of 57 degrees F on January 31, reported its first reading of 50 degrees F or higher since November 25. In Madison, WI, a 26-day streak (January 5-30) with sub- freezing temperatures ended with a high of 39 degrees F on January 31. Farther south, late-week showers in Florida resulted in a 2-day rainfall total of 1.97 inches in Tampa. Near- to below-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, accompanied by some significant precipitation across southern areas. Daily-record snowfall totals were noted in Alaskan locations such as Juneau (9.1 inches on January 26) and Anchorage (4.4 inches on January 30). Juneau's monthly snowfall totaled 75.2 inches (260 percent of normal), breaking its January record of 69.2 inches set in 1982. Yakutat's monthly precipitation of 22.63 inches (172 percent of normal) represented its wettest January since 1992, when 29.84 inches fell. Meanwhile, cool, showery weather prevailed for part of the week in Hawaii. On Maui, Kahului netted 2.26 inches of rain from January 27-29. In addition, Kahului's high temperature only reached 70 degrees F on January 27. On Kauai, 24-hour rainfall totals on January 26-27 reached 5.61 inches in Wainiha and 4.61 inches in Kokee. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary January 26 - February 1, 2009 Precipitation in the form of ice, snow, and wintery mix fell from the lower Mississippi Valley, northeastward through the Tennessee Valley and into the Ohio Valley. In the Northeast, 1 to 2 inches of snow fell in the inland areas, and mixed precipitation fell along the Atlantic Coast. In the west, snow accumulations of up to 2 inches fell in the Rocky Mountain Range. In northern Florida, rain accumulations of up to 4 inches were evident during the week. Temperatures were below normal across much of the Nation during the week with the exceptions of the Southeast and the central Four Corners region where temperatures were above normal. Field work continued in California small grain and rice fields, as growers prepared for spring planting. Field crops were growing as a result of recent rains. Producers were working in vineyards, trimming olives, and cultural practices continued in pomegranate and stone fruit orchards. Citrus and kiwi harvests continued. Flower buds developed on nectarine and apricot trees and berry nursery stock digging was nearly complete. Fields were prepared for spring planting of cantaloupe, tomato, and onion crops. Greenhouse vegetables were transplanted throughout the State. Arizona small grain planting was nearly complete. Vegetable and fruit harvest continued. Oklahoma winter wheat development was slowed due to recent dryness. The winter weather event was reported to have minimal impact on the lack of moisture over major wheat producing areas. Moisture from recent weeks had a positive response in grain fields in Texas as they showed improvement. However, it has been reported that moisture was still necessary for further improvement to a dry, stressed crop. Cotton field preparation continued in the Trans-Pecos and Northern Low Plains. Pecan pruning and hedging was also evident and fall planted onions were dormant in the Trans-Pecos. In South Texas, cool growing conditions advanced onion development. Spinach producers prepared for a second cutting of fields harvested earlier in the season. Georgia farmers were preparing for spring planting with herbicide and fertilizer applications. Cool weather was slowing small grain development. Spring planting preparations continued for field crops. Early planted potatoes were able to remain unharmed by recent freezes, while some fruits and vegetables were damaged. Early and mid-season citrus harvest was nearly complete with processing plants reporting full capacity. 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. 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