We 1 (3-10) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Washington, D.C. Released March 16, 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 March 7 - 13, 2010 Highlights: Rain soaked much of the eastern half of the U.S., causing widespread flooding and slowing or halting spring fieldwork. Precipitation was heaviest across the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, where weekly totals in excess of 4 inches were common from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia into New Jersey. In the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain, flooding occurred due to the combination of tidal effects and runoff from rain and melting snow. Mid-Atlantic woes were compounded by high winds, which resulted in power outages and travel disruptions. Farther west, lowland flooding intensified across the western Corn Belt as 1 to 2 inches of rain fell atop melting snow. In addition, muddy Midwestern fields and feedlots maintained stress on livestock, especially in the western Corn Belt. Wet weather also covered much of the Plains, limiting spring planting preparations. Exceptions included Montana and western Texas, where mostly dry weather prevailed. Elsewhere, cool, showery conditions affected the West, although precipitation amounts were generally light. In California and the Southwest, cool, damp weather slowed fieldwork and crop development. Weekly temperatures ranged from more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit below normal in California, Nevada, and Arizona to at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the Nation's northern tier from Minnesota to Maine. Scattered frost was reported in California as far south as the San Joaquin Valley, mainly from March 9-11. Early in the week, chilly conditions lingered across the East. Daily-record lows in Florida for March 7 included 28 degrees Fahrenheit in Gainesville and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in Melbourne. Meanwhile, mild air expanded across the northern High Plains, where Ennis, Montana (58 degrees Fahrenheit), posted a daily-record high for March 7. Unusual warmth also affected the remainder of the Nation's northern tier, with highs reaching daily-record levels in locations such as Portland, Maine (58 degrees Fahrenheit on March 8); Watertown, New York (59 degrees Fahrenheit on March 11); and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (62 degrees Fahrenheit on March 13). Record-setting warmth also briefly overspread southern Texas, where daily-record highs on March 10 soared to 94 degrees Fahrenheit in McAllen and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Harlingen. In Tennessee, highs reached or exceeded 70 degrees Fahrenheit on March 8 for the first time since mid-November 2009 in locations such as Memphis and Nashville. Memphis experienced 112 consecutive days of sub-70-degree weather from November 16 - March 7, representing its longest such streak since the winter of 1930-31 (133 days). Similarly, Chicago, Illinois, saw the end of its longest spell of sub-50-degree weather (97 days from December 2 - March 8) since the winter of 1978-79 (115 days). In Huron, South Dakota, however, a record-setting streak of sub-40-degree weather continued through week's end. Huron's streak, which reached at least 102 days (December 2 - March 13), edged its 1954-55 standard of 98 days. Meanwhile, chilly air settled across the West. On March 9, Northwestern daily-record lows included 23 degrees Fahrenheit in Olympia, Washington, and 24 degrees Fahrenheit in Medford, Oregon. Elsewhere in Oregon, Klamath Falls notched consecutive daily-record lows (10 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit) on March 9-10. In California, selected daily-record lows included 34 degrees Fahrenheit (on March 9) in Sacramento and 30 degrees Fahrenheit (on March 11) in Ramona. El Cajon, California (39 degrees Fahrenheit on March 10 and 11), collected a pair of daily-record lows. As the week began, a significant late-winter storm crossed California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. In Needles, California, the year-to-date rainfall climbed to 4.08 inches, compared to the normal annual total of 5.11 inches. On March 8-9 in Nevada, 24-hour snowfall totals topped a foot in locations such as Wells and Eureka. Elsewhere in Nevada, Pahrump (2.0 inches on March 9) experienced its heaviest March snowfall on record. Pahrump's other March accumulations were 1.0 inch on March 12, 1917, and 0.9 inch on March 1-2, 1951. Farther east, heavy rain reached the Plains on March 9, when daily-record totals reached 1.08 inches in Grand Island, Nebraska, and 0.88 inch in Mobridge, South Dakota. In fact, March 8-12 storm totals climbed to 1.89 inches in Grand Island and 1.27 inches (including 3.8 inches of snow) in Mobridge. In Jamestown, North Dakota, precipitation totaled 1.48 inches during the same 5-day period. Meanwhile, heavy rain and locally severe thunderstorms erupted across the South. From March 8-12, more than a dozen tornadoes were spotted from Oklahoma to Georgia and Florida. Southern daily rainfall records included 4.21 inches (on March 10) in Anniston, Alabama, and 4.99 inches (on March 12) in West Palm Beach, Florida. West Palm Beach's 2-day total (on March 11-12) reached 9.00 inches. On the western fringe of the storm, 5.0 inches of snow blanketed Dalhart, Texas, on March 10. Rain moved into the Mid-Atlantic States on March 12-13, accompanied by high winds, and lingered for several days. The combination of melting snow and 4- to 8-inch rainfall totals contributed to significant flooding. For example, a record crest was observed on the Pawtuxet River at Cranston, Rhode Island (5.98 feet above flood stage on March 15), where the former record of 5.50 feet above flood stage had been set on June 7, 1982. In northern New Jersey, the highest water levels since April 1984 were measured at gauging points such as the Pompton River at Pompton Plains (6.78 feet above flood stage on March 14) and the Passaic River at Little Falls (4.97 feet above flood stage on March 16). During the afternoon and evening of March 13, Mid-Atlantic peak gusts included 75 miles per hour at New York's JFK Airport and 73 miles per hour in southern New Jersey at the Atlantic City Marina. Farther north, Boston, Massachusetts, netted 6.98 inches of rain from March 13-15, along with a wind gust to 54 miles per hour on the middle date. Elsewhere, unsettled, windy weather returned to the Northwest at week's end. Winchester, Idaho, received 6.8 inches of snow on March 12-13, while Cape Blanco, Oregon, experienced a wind gust to 89 miles per hour. Cold air, which had been confined to western Alaska in early March, overspread the remainder of the State. Among numerous Alaskan daily-record lows were readings of -36 degrees Fahrenheit (on March 10) in McGrath and -24 degrees Fahrenheit (on March 11) in King Salmon. It was King Salmon's lowest reading since December 18, 2009, when it was also -24 degrees Fahrenheit. Mostly dry weather accompanied the chill except in southeastern Alaska, where significant snow fell. Weekly snowfall totaled 8.9 inches in Juneau and 16.4 inches in Valdez. Anchorage received 5.1 inches of snow on March 8-9, but 34.0 inches fell nearby in Girdwood. However, season-to-date snowfall totals remained significantly below normal at most Alaskan locations, including Juneau (59.1 inches, or 68 percent of normal) and Fairbanks (24.0 inches, or 38 percent). Farther south, beneficial showers dotted drought-stricken Hawaii. On the Big Island, Hilo's weekly rainfall of 2.55 inches boosted its January 1 - March 13 total to 7.05 inches (29 percent of normal). Year-to-date rainfall totals were also less than 30 percent of normal in locations such as Honolulu, Oahu; Kahului, Maui; and Lihue, Kauai. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary March 8 - 14, 2010 Highlights: Temperatures west of the Rocky Mountains varied from slightly to as many as 9 degrees below normal during the week. Conversely, abnormally warm temperatures persisted throughout the Great Lakes, Corn Belt, Ohio Valley, and northern Atlantic Coast. Wet weather returned to much of the country, with areas in the Southeast receiving more than 400 percent of their normal rainfall. Drier weather prevailed in southern Texas, giving many fields a chance to dry out. Strong storm systems dumped heavy rainfall across much of Florida, further delaying row crop planting in the Panhandle and hampering the growth of winter forages. In southern Florida, sugarcane harvest neared completion. Despite warmer temperatures than in recent weeks, abnormally cool overnight temperatures continued to slow the growth of many vegetable crops. Citrus grove activities included harvesting fruit, applying insecticides, and general maintenance. In Georgia, rainfall returned midweek, increasing soil moisture levels in many areas and causing erosion and flooding in others. While fieldwork in preparation for spring planting was delayed by the wet weather, producers applied fertilizer and pre-emergence herbicide where conditions allowed. Storms brought above average rainfall to much of Oklahoma early during the week, benefitting many small grain crops while leaving producers in need of drier conditions to continue fieldwork and begin planting their row crops. Seedbed preparation was behind both last year and the 5-year average for all row crops except peanuts. The winter wheat and rye crops had reached the jointing stage, but warmer temperatures were needed to accelerate growth. In Texas, corn planting in the Blacklands remained behind schedule due to recent rainfall, while warmer, drier weather in the Coastal Bend promoted the start of corn and sorghum planting. Producers in the Trans-Pecos were furrowing and irrigating their cotton fields. Due to adequate soil moisture and warmer weather, the winter wheat crop in the Northern High Plains was progressing well. Continued dry weather in South Texas prompted producers to begin irrigating their oat and vegetable fields. Despite a limited snowpack, producers in some areas of western Washington had begun seeding their spring crops. Barley and processed green pea planting was well ahead of normal. Orchard producers in the Yakima Valley were wrapping up tree pruning activities. Another active week of Pacific storms brought below average temperatures and moderate, but widespread precipitation to much of California. While many small grain crops continued to grow well, row crop producers completed spring fieldwork in preparation for corn and cotton planting. Fungicide sprays were made to blooming stone fruit trees and grape vineyards in the Central Valley where buds began to swell. Asparagus and radicchio harvest continued in San Joaquin and Merced Counties, while fields were prepared for summer vegetables. 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. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. Follow the instructions on the screen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6880 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.