We 1 (3-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 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 February 22 - 28, 2009 Highlights: Precipitation subsided in California but overspread the Northwest. California remained at significant risk of completing a third consecutive year of drought, with at least 10 inches of precipitation still needed by April 1 in the Sierra Nevada to achieve a normal snow pack. Meanwhile on the Plains, drought markedly worsened across southern portions of the region due to dry, windy conditions and an early-season heat wave. Temperatures climbed above 90 degrees F in parts of Texas from February 24- 27, adversely affecting winter grains, pastures, and rangeland. In contrast, generally beneficial snow blanketed portions of the northern Plains on February 25-26, although cold, stormy weather increased stress of livestock. Farther east, the upper Midwest also received significant snow, while locally heavy rain showers dotted the remainder of the Corn Belt. Elsewhere, an explosive late-week storm produced soaking rain, heavy snow, and high winds in the Southeast, with moisture spreading northward along the Atlantic Seaboard by March 1-2. Despite some showers in Florida, irrigation efforts continued for much of the week to maintain favorable conditions for citrus orchards and other agricultural interests. A tightening temperature gradient across the nation's mid-section resulted in above-normal temperatures in the south-central U.S. and below-normal readings in the north-central U.S. Weekly temperatures ranged from 18 degrees F below normal in North Dakota to as much as 10 degrees F above normal in Texas. Early in the week, heavy precipitation lingered across northern and central California, where daily-record rainfall totals for February 22 included 1.26 inches in Sacramento and 1.11 inches in Oakland. February 21-23 storm-total rainfall in central California reached 6.96 inches at Venado and 6.55 inches at Ben Lomond. Meanwhile, wet weather shifted into the Northwest, where Yakima, WA, noted consecutive daily-record rainfall totals (0.28 inch on both February 22 and 23). Elsewhere in Washington, Spokane (0.48 inch on February 23) also netted a daily-record sum. Farther east, heavy snow blanketed northern New England, where daily-record amounts totaled 6.6 inches (on February 22) in Burlington, VT, and 10.0 inches (on February 23) in Caribou, ME. Early-week snowfall locally topped 2 feet, with totals reaching 28 inches in Medway (Penobscot County), ME, and 25 inches in Sutton (Caledonia County), VT. Winds accompanying the snow gust to 55 m.p.h. on February 23 in Houlton, ME. Between areas of stormy weather, unusually warm conditions developed from the Southwest into the nation's mid-section. Tucson, AZ, posted a daily-record high of 91 degrees F on February 23, missing its monthly record by 1 degree F. Elsewhere in Arizona, Douglas (86 degrees F on February 23) tied a monthly record high first attained on February 14, 1957. Warmth briefly surged as far north as Montana, where both Bozeman (61 degrees F) and Helena (60 degrees F) collected daily-record highs for February 23. Farther east, however, chilly conditions lingered in the East, where daily-record lows included 19 degrees F (on February 23) in Charlotte, NC, and 0 degrees F (on February 24) in Elkins, WV. Later, record-setting warmth affected the southern Plains from February 24-26, with heat lingering across southern Texas through February 27. Midland, TX, reached 90 degrees F on February 24 and 26, tying a monthly record previously set on February 29, 1940, and February 19, 1986. Elsewhere in Texas, February 26 highs of 96 degrees F in San Angelo and 93 degrees F in Abilene both missed monthly records by 1 degree F. Previously, San Angelo reached 97 degrees F on February 22, 1996, while Abilene reached 94 degrees F on February 25, 1904. In Deep South Texas, daily-record highs for February 27 included 101 degrees F in McAllen and 98 degrees F in Zapata. McAllen also set a record for its earliest triple-digit reading and shattered its former monthly standard of 99 degrees F, set on February 9, 1962. In stark contrast, Rhinelander, WI, posted a daily-record low of -22 degrees F on February 28. During the mid- to late-week period, one storm crossed the nation's northern tier, while a second system plunged southeastward from the Pacific Northwest toward the southern Atlantic Coast. Snowfall associated with the first storm (on February 25-26) topped a foot at a few locations in the Dakotas, including Carson, ND (15 inches), and Pollock, SD (14 inches). At least a half-foot of snow blanketed parts of the upper Midwest, while daily-record precipitation totals for February 26 reached 1.95 inches in Chicago, IL, and 1.65 inches in Muskegon, MI. Bitterly cold weather trailed the storm, with Baudette, MN, notching a low of -29 degrees F on February 27. Downwind of the Lake Superior, lake-effect squalls dumped 8.8 inches of snow on Marquette, MI, on February 27. Farther west, the second storm produced daily-record snowfall totals on February 26 in Kalispell, MT (6.5 inches), and Seattle, WA (2.1 inches). A day later, 6.0 inches of snow blanketed Valentine, NE. Meanwhile, heavy rain and locally severe thunderstorms erupted in the Southeast, where 24-hour (February 27-28) rainfall amounts in Mississippi totaled 7.80 inches in Holcomb and 8.28 inches in Starkville (Mississippi State University). As February came to an end, separate areas of frozen precipitation spread across the Mid-Atlantic piedmont and settled into the Mid-South, with snow reported as far south as Memphis, TN. Before dawn on March 1, snow fell in Birmingham, AL, and central Mississippi locations such as Jackson and Meridian. More details on this unusual and powerful late-season Southeastern storm will appear in next week's summary. In Hawaii, the month ended on a cool, mostly dry note. During the last 10 days of February, temperatures averaged 3 degrees F below normal in Lihue, Kauai. Elsewhere, February rainfall totaled less than one-half inch (10 to 20 percent of normal) in both Kahului, Maui, and Honolulu, Oahu. Farther north, exceptionally stormy weather continued across western Alaska, where Kotzebue (47.4 inches) shattered its February 2005 snowfall record of 31.7 inches. Kotzebue's latest major storm dumped 10.7 inches of snow on February 27-28 and produced a peak wind gust to 64 m.p.h. High winds also battered the remainder of western Alaska, resulting in the highest wind gust on record on St. Paul Island (westerly gust to 91 m.p.h. on February 25; previously, 84 m.p.h. in November 1990). National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary February 23 - March 1, 2009 Along the Pacific Coast, from Washington to central California, precipitation fell with accumulations greater than 4 inches around northern California. A set of storms pushed through the Southeast and Tennessee Valley at the end of the week moving northward to the Mid-Atlantic into Sunday. Rain, snow and wintery mix accumulations ranged from as little as 1 to 2 inches with isolated parts of northern Georgia and areas northward receiving up to 24 inches. Temperatures were cooler than usual in the northern tier of the United States, the Mid-Atlantic, and southward into Florida. Elsewhere, temperatures were near normal to above normal. California rain was beneficial to dry land field crops but hampered some field activity. As weather permitted, growers were preparing fields for spring planting. Early variety nectarines and apricots continued to bloom, while stone fruit continued pushing buds. Vineyard preparations were mostly complete for the new season. Citrus harvest was ongoing as conditions allowed. Almonds were in full bloom, but pollination was hampered by rains. Spring vegetable field preparing and harvest of winter vegetables continued as weather permitted. In Arizona, durum wheat and barley emergence had occurred on 89 percent or more of the acreage. Winter vegetable harvest continued as temperatures were above normal across the state and minimal precipitation was received during the week. Texas wheat in the High Plains benefitted from recent rain but continued to struggle due to lack of moisture. Cotton field preparations continued in the Northern Plains. Corn spring planting preparations were underway in the Northern High Plains. Corn planting in the Blacklands was ongoing and had begun in northern East Texas, South Central Texas, and the Upper Coast. Spinach and cabbage harvest continued in South Texas. Georgia received rain on Friday and Saturday ahead of a cold front which brought snow to the northern half of the state on Sunday. Wheat topdressing was near complete. Vegetable growers were laying plastic for March planting and transplanting. Florida producers were harvesting damaged sugarcane in Glades County. Vegetables in the fields looked to be in good condition, although production was slow due to lack of rainfall. Strawberry harvest was in full swing while the watermelon crop was being evaluated for effects from an earlier frost. Citrus areas remained dry and in need of rainfall. Most areas have not had significant rainfall since mid-January. Growers were hedging, topping, irrigating, fertilizing, spraying, and mowing. Harvesting of early and midseason had slowed significantly due to availability. Some packing houses have completed processing tangelos and Temples for the season. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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