We 1 (1-09) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 6, 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 December 28, 2008 - January 3, 2009 Highlights: A stormy weather pattern persisted across the Northwest, but dry weather returned to southern California and the Southwest. Precipitation continued to fall across the northern Rockies and the interior Northwest, building high-elevation snow packs and insulating winter grains. However, flooding affected some Northwestern river basins, mainly west of the Cascades. Snow also continued to blanket the remainder of the nation's northern tier, particularly from Montana into the Great Lakes region. In those areas, cold weather and a deep snow cover maintained difficult conditions for livestock and hampered rural travel, but protected winter grains from low temperatures. Weekly readings averaged at least 5 degrees F below normal in much of North Dakota and neighboring areas. Mild, dry weather prevailed, however, across the remainder of the Plains and the Midwest. However, concerns about dryness were mostly restricted to winter wheat on the southern Plains, where a portion of the crop was not well established prior to the dormancy period. By January 3, nearly half (46 percent) of the Texas winter wheat crop was rated in very poor to poor condition, up from 16 percent on November 23. Similarly, one-fifth of Oklahoma's wheat was rated very poor to poor on January 3, up from 6 percent on November 23. In contrast, just 3 to 5 percent of the wheat was rated very poor to poor on January 3 in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, and North Carolina. Elsewhere, locally heavy showers dotted the Southeast early in the week and again toward week's end, but bypassed Florida's peninsula. As a result, Florida's citrus and winter vegetable producers continued to irrigate to maintain favorable crop conditions. Unusual warmth covered Florida and the remainder of the South, with weekly temperatures averaging 5 to 10 degrees F above normal across the majority of the region. Colder air swept into the East early in the week, but not before a spate of daily-record highs on December 28. On that date, highs reached 79 degrees F in Alma, GA; 76 degrees F in Norfolk, VA; and 66 degrees F in Trenton, NJ. Meanwhile, another round of heavy precipitation arrived in the Northwest, where Spokane, WA (8.3 inches), received a daily-record snowfall for December 29. The following day, snowfall records for December 30 reached 8.8 inches in Fargo, ND, and 7.3 inches in Wausau, WI. By month's end, Spokane's December snowfall climbed to 61.5 inches, shattering records for both December (previously, 42.7 inches in 1996) and any month (previously, 56.9 inches in January 1950). All-time monthly snowfall records were also broken in locations such as Madison, WI (40.4 inches; previously, 37.0 inches in February 1994), and Bismarck, ND (33.3 inches; previously, 31.1 inches in March 1975). December snowfall records were eclipsed at a multitude of Northern locations, including Rochester, NY (46.2 inches; previously, 46.1 inches in 1981); Green Bay, WI (45.6 inches; previously, 36.4 inches in 1887); and Great Falls, MT (30.5 inches; previously, 25.0 inches in 1945). Farther south, Lubbock, TX, which experienced dust storms on December 3, 8, 14, 23, 26, 27, and January 1, posted a daily-record high of 80 degrees F on December 30. Following a wet first half of October, when rainfall totaled 3.77 inches, Lubbock received less than one-tenth of an inch of precipitation in an 80-day span from October 16 - January 3. Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio (13.76 inches, or 42 percent of normal) completed its third-driest year on record, behind 10.11 inches in 1917 and 13.70 inches in 1954. In stark contrast, locations completing their wettest year on record included Hartford, CT (65.43 inches, or 142 percent of normal; previously 64.55 inches in 1972); St. Louis, MO (57.96 inches, or 150 percent; previously 54.97 inches in 1982); Wichita, KS (53.82 inches, or 177 percent; previously, 50.48 inches in 1951); and Chicago, IL (50.86 inches, or 140 percent; previously, 49.35 inches in 1983). During the second half of the week, heavy snow again blanketed the Cascades and northern Rockies, while heavy rain triggered flooding in the Pacific Northwest. In western Montana, Kalispell noted consecutive daily snowfall records on January 1 and 2, totaling 24.4 inches. Storm-total snowfall amounts of 2 to 3 feet were common in northwestern Wyoming, and some isolated totals in excess of 4 feet were reported in the northern Rockies. Meanwhile, rainfall totals as high as 6 to 8 inches triggered some flooding in western Oregon. For example, the Pudding River at Aurora, OR, crested 2.92 feet above flood stage on January 3. However, that level was 5.80 feet shy of Aurora's February 1996 high-water mark. Farther south, winds in excess of 100 m.p.h. swept across the Sierra Nevada and into the Great Basin, with a gust to 109 m.p.h. reported on Nevada's Virginia Peak on January 2. Farther east, the week ended on a warm note across the South, with January 3 highs of 84 degrees F in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, and 81 degrees F in Shreveport, LA, among several dozen daily-record highs. Locally heavy showers developed along the central Gulf Coast, where New Orleans, LA (4.98 inches), netted a daily-record total for January 3. Frigid, mostly dry weather prevailed in Alaska, although some heavy snow blanketed the southeastern part of the state early in the week. In fact, Pelican noted consecutive daily-record snowfall totals on December 27-28, totaling 19.0 inches. Meanwhile, weekly temperatures averaged as much as 30 degrees F below normal across interior Alaska. On January 3-4, low temperatures included -65 degrees F at O'Brien Creek (on the Taylor Highway) and -62 degrees F at Chalkyitsik. In Anchorage, minimum temperatures of -16 degrees F on January 2 and 3 represented the lowest readings since February 8, 1999. Anchorage also remained below 0 degrees F on 6 consecutive days from December 30 - January 4, marking its longest stretch of sub-zero weather since January 30 - February 5, 1999. Farther south, heavy showers continued to soak windward portions of the Hawaiian Islands. On the Big Island, Hilo's weekly rainfall reached 16.14 inches, aided by a daily-record sum of 5.61 inches on December 28. Hilo also netted a daily-record total (3.41 inches) on January 2. December rainfall totals of 30.38 inches (289 percent of normal) in Hilo and 19.46 inches (407 percent) in Lihue, Kauai, were impressive, but fell short of records established in December 1954 (50.82 inches) and 1968 (22.91 inches), respectively. National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397. Agricultural Summary December 29, 2008 - January 4, 2009 Significant precipitation fell in the Pacific Northwest, inward to the northern Rocky Mountains. Accumulations in portions of western Oregon totaled more than 4 inches. The Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle also received significant precipitation. Temperatures averaged normal or above normal throughout most of the Nation. Herbicides were applied to California small grain fields, while cotton growers were pre-irrigating for upcoming planting. Sugarbeets were growing well in the State as producers treated and irrigated fields for insect and weed control. Vineyard pruning continued in California, as the arrival of bud break neared and frost possibilities remained a concern. Strawberries were growing well and new blueberry bushes were being planted. California citrus harvest progressed. Vegetable field work continued for outdoor spring planting preparations, and harvest of farmer's market vegetables continued. In Arizona, cotton harvest was wrapping up across the State, slightly behind last year and the 5-year average. Texas cotton harvest was complete in the High Plains but continued in the Northern Low Plains while planting preparations were ongoing in the Trans-Pecos region. Sorghum and peanut harvests were complete across Texas, and cabbage harvest continued. In Florida, harvest of cole crops such as broccoli and cabbage continued. The citrus crop across the State experienced warm temperatures and very little rainfall. Trees began to show slight afternoon wilt as drought conditions extended further into the citrus producing region. 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. 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. 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