We 1 (1-10) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released January 26, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Julie Schmidt at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary January 17 - 23, 2010 Highlights: A barrage of Pacific storms drenched California, causing flash flooding and mudslides. However, the moisture also boosted high-elevation snow packs and improved spring and summer runoff prospects. The average water content of the Sierra Nevada snow pack stood at 10 inches (76 percent of normal) on January 16, but increased to 18 inches (115 percent) just 8 days later. Significant moisture also overspread the Four Corners States and the Intermountain West, similarly improving the water supply outlook. Mostly dry weather prevailed, however, in the Northwest, consistent with mid-winter atmospheric patterns driven by El Niņo. Meanwhile on the High Plains, mostly dry weather maintained concerns about the condition of winter wheat, especially in parts of Texas. Farther east, mixed precipitation (rain, freezing rain, and snow) caused some travel disruptions in the Midwest, while heavy rain perpetuated soggy conditions and fieldwork disruptions in the Southeast. In spite of the stormy conditions, mild weather continued nearly Nationwide. Weekly temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across much of the Nation's mid-section, but were below normal in parts of the West. Four major storms struck California and the Southwest, resulting in historic amounts of rain and snow, high winds, and record-low barometric pressures. Weekly precipitation totals of 10 to 15 inches were noted at selected locations in California and Arizona, including Honeydew, California (14.56 inches), and Globe, Arizona (11.99 inches). Elsewhere in Arizona, Flagstaff experienced its third-wettest, third-snowiest 5-day period on record, with 5.27 inches (52.3 inches of snow) falling from January 18-22. Winslow, Arizona, coming off its second-driest year on record with 2.81 inches of precipitation (35 percent of normal), received 1.99 inches from January 19-22. Similarly, Las Vegas, Nevada, netted 1.70 inches of rain from January 18-22, surpassing its 2009 annual total of 1.59 inches (35 percent of normal). Las Vegas also registered its wettest January day on record, with 0.89 inch falling on January 21 (previously, 0.81 inch on January 3, 2005). On the same day, Las Vegas and a multitude of Southwestern stations recorded their all-time lowest barometric pressures. January 21 barometric pressure records in Fresno, California (28.94 inches of mercury), and Reno, Nevada (28.91 inches), had stood since January 27, 1916. The new record in Las Vegas (29.03 inches) eclipsed the December 1949 standard of 29.17 inches. Barometric records were also broken on January 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah (28.94 inches); Bakersfield, California (28.94 inches); Los Angeles, California (29.07 inches); San Diego, California (29.15 inches); and Phoenix, Arizona (29.20 inches). The previous day, January 20, records had been established in Medford, Oregon (28.88 inches), and Eureka, California (28.90 inches). Weekly snowfall totals topped 100 inches in a few southern Sierra Nevada locations, including Kaiser Point and Horse Meadow. Near Los Angeles, approximately 7 feet of snow fell on Mt. Baldy at the 8,600-foot elevation. Elsewhere in southern California, about 4 feet of snow blanketed Wrightwood, elevation 6,000 feet, and Lockwood Valley, elevation 5,700 feet. Near Las Vegas, 47 inches were reported at Mt. Charleston. Snowfall totals of 2 to 4 feet were common in the Rockies of New Mexico, with 35 inches reported in Chama. Winds associated with the Pacific storm train topped 90 miles per hour in locations such as Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, California (93 and 92 miles per hour, respectively, on January 19). A gust to 94 miles per hour was clocked in Ajo, Arizona. Farther east, two significant rainfall events maintained soggy conditions in parts of the South and East. Daily-record rainfall totals for January 17 included 1.71 inches in Salisbury, Maryland; 1.60 inches in Georgetown, Delaware; and 1.55 inches in Charleston, South Carolina. A few days later, on January 20, drenching rains totaled 5.71 inches in Mobile, Alabama, and 4.66 inches in Tallahassee, Florida. Severe thunderstorms accompanied the Southern rainfall, with more than three dozen tornadoes reported during the week from southern California into the Southeast. More than half of those tornadoes occurred on January 20 from eastern Texas into southern Mississippi. Farther north, late-week precipitation across the north-central U.S. changed from mostly rain and freezing rain to snow. By January 23, daily-record snowfall totals were reported in Montana locations such as Havre (8.5 inches) and Great Falls (7.0 inches). Elsewhere, scattered daily-record highs were mostly confined to the Pacific Northwest and the Deep South. Vancouver, Washington, posted a record high of 60 degrees Fahrenheit on January 19, followed by a record high of 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on January 20. In Texas, daily records included 85 degrees Fahrenheit (on January 22) in Abilene and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (on January 23) in Brownsville. Cold, mostly dry weather across interior Alaska contrasted with mild conditions across the southeastern part of the State. In Nome, daily temperatures averaged at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal each day from January 17-22, while the extreme minimum temperature dipped to -28 degrees Fahrenheit on the 21st. Farther south, drought continued to gradually expand and intensify across the majority of Hawaii. During the first 23 days of January, rainfall totaled just 0.66 inch (9 percent of normal) on the Big Island at Hilo and 0.08 inch (4 percent) in Honolulu, Oahu. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary January 18 - 24, 2010 Highlights: With the exception of portions of the Great Basin, Southwest, and California, temperatures were warmer than normal during the week. In northern Minnesota, temperatures reached as many as 20 degrees above normal. Wet weather dominated much of the Nation, with above average precipitation falling in California, the Southwest, northern Great Plains, Corn Belt, Delta, and Southeast. Isolated locations in Arizona and California received 6 inches or more of precipitation following an onslaught of storms. Elsewhere, mostly dry weather prevailed, with areas in the Rocky Mountains, central Great Plains, and Texas receiving less than 2 percent of their normal precipitation. In Florida, the effects of last week's freeze became more evident as producers continued to assess crop damage. With widespread damage apparent in the sugarcane crop, producers harvested their fields at mill capacity. Due to freeze damage in many vegetable crops, many packinghouses closed and will not reopen for several weeks. The cold weather caused extensive damage to snap beans and squash, and limited the harvest of endive, escarole, radishes, and tomatoes. Citrus producers spent the week harvesting early and mid-season oranges. Wet soil conditions and cold temperatures continued to limit fieldwork in Georgia. Localized flooding occurred in bottomlands and some fields showed signs of erosion following a second week of above average rainfall on already saturated soil. Some cotton producers in the south-central part of the State abandoned their fields after locally heavy rainfall destroyed the unharvested crop. Part of the winter wheat crop growing on the plains of Texas showed adverse effects from dry soils and high winds, while much of the dryland small grain crops in South Texas flourished following last week's above average rainfall. Statewide, cotton producers were busy cultivating and fertilizing their fields in preparation for spring planting. Vegetable growers in the Cross Timbers planted onions and potatoes, as the spinach and cabbage harvest in South Texas resumed. Pecan producers had harvested 95 percent of their crop, slightly behind last year and the 5-year average. An abundance of precipitation fell in Arizona during the week, with much of the State receiving total accumulations of 800 percent above normal. Producers continued to ship vegetables despite the wet weather, including a variety of cabbages, escarole, kale, leeks, parsley, and spinach. A wave of Pacific storm systems delivered above average precipitation to California during the week, leading to flooding and mudslides in many southern areas of the State. Wind gusts associated with the storms downed almond trees in some orchards and caused lodging in small grain fields. Erosion occurred in some row crop fields and low-lying fields remained underwater. Fieldwork stalled and fruit harvest slowed significantly. 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. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. 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