We 1 (2-08)
Weekly Weather
And Crop Bulletin
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
Released February 12, 2008, 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 3 - 9, 2008
Highlights: A powerful, mid-winter storm left a path of
destruction on February 5 across the Mid-South, where more than 100
tornadoes caused at least 59 fatalities (33 in Tennessee, 13 in
Arkansas, 7 in Kentucky, and 6 in Alabama). High winds also caused
extensive damage to trees and buildings, especially from northern
portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama northward into the
Ohio Valley. Record-setting warmth prevailed in advance of the
cold front responsible for the severe weather outbreak, boosting
weekly temperatures more than 10 degrees F above normal across much
of the East. The same storm system triggered flooding rains in the
central and eastern Corn Belt and produced heavy snow across parts
of the northern and western Corn Belt. In northern Indiana,
flooding struck for the second time in less than a month.
Meanwhile, seasonal snowfall approached record totals in southern
Wisconsin and neighboring areas. Toward week's end, a surge of
bitterly cold weather across the Midwest increased stress on
livestock and froze previously soggy soils in the soft red winter
wheat belt. Farther west, above-normal temperatures across the
southeastern Plains contrasted with cold conditions on the northern
High Plains. Snow protected much of the Plains' winter wheat from
Kansas northward, with new accumulations noted on the central
Plains, but coverage was patchy and shallow from Montana into
Nebraska. Late-week warmth melted much of Kansas' snow.
Elsewhere, precipitation lingered across the Northwest, but the
remainder of the West experienced a warming, drying trend.
Fieldwork and crop development accelerated in California and
Southwest, following a month of cool, often damp conditions.
Across winter grain areas of the interior Northwest, a substantial
snow cover began to melt.
The February 5 severe weather outbreak, which according to
preliminary reports included as many as 120 tornadoes, was among
the nation's worst. It was the deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak
since May 31, 1985 (76 fatalities), and the deadliest February
outbreak since February 21, 1971 (121 fatalities). Since 1950, the
nation's worst tornado outbreak occurred on April 3-4, 1974--the
"Palm Sunday Outbreak"--when 308 deaths occurred. Only twice since
1950 were more than 100 U.S. tornadoes confirmed in a single
outbreak: April 3-4, 1974 (147) and September 19-23, 1967 (115),
associated with the remnants of Hurricane Beulah in Texas. During
the February 5 outbreak, the two deadliest twisters struck in
Tennessee (24 deaths in Sumner and Macon Counties) and Arkansas (12
deaths in Pope and Izard Counties). The same tornado responsible
for those Arkansas fatalities set a state record with a 123-mile
track length from Yell to Sharp Counties (previously, 112 miles on
February 20, 1951).
Farther north, the Portage River at Woodville, OH, crested 5.66
feet above flood stage on February 7, the second-highest level on
record behind 8.00 feet on March 27, 1913. Meanwhile in Indiana,
the Tippecanoe River near Ora crested 3.60 feet above flood stage
at midnight on February 7-8, second only to the high-water mark
(3.63 feet above flood stage) established less than a month ago on
January 10. Weekly rainfall totaled 2 to 4 inches in many of the
flood-affected areas, with 3.63 inches soaking Lima, OH, from
February 4-6. In contrast, snow accumulations climbed toward
record totals in parts of the northern Corn Belt. Through February
9, season-to-date snowfall climbed to 75.5 inches in Madison, WI,
behind only 76.1 inches during the entire 1978-79 season and 75.9
inches in 1885-86. Similarly, 58.0 inches of snow fell in
Rockford, IL, from July 1, 2007 - February 9, 2008, fourth behind
74.5 inches in 1978-79, 61.0 inches in 1942-43, and 58.2 inches in
1974-75. In Michigan, Flint netted 12.4 inches of snow on February
6, representing its eighth-greatest 24-hour total on record. For
Madison, the 13.4-inch total on February 5-6 was its
second-greatest 24-hour sum, behind only 17.3 inches on December 3,
1990. Storm totals in excess of 20 inches of snow were reported at
a few locations in southern Wisconsin.
Prior to reaching the Corn Belt, the storm responsible for the
Midwestern snow blanketed the Southwest. In Arizona, February 3-4
snowfall totals were as high as 27 inches in Happy Jack and 18
inches in Show Low. About 40 inches of snow fell from February 1-5
in Chama, NM, boosting its season-to-date total to more than 150
inches (nearly 100 inches falls during a typical season). Chama's
snowiest February on record occurred in 1994, when 54.8 inches
fell. Heavy snow also overspread the central Plains, where
Goodland, KS, received 8.3 inches on February 4-5. On the other
side of the storm, several days of record-setting warmth covered
the South and East. In southern Texas, highs on February 5 soared
to 101 degrees F in Rio Grande City and 96 degrees F in McAllen.
Farther north and east, among dozens of daily-record highs were
readings of 81 degrees F (on February 4) in Tulsa, OK; 82 degrees F
(on February 5) in Columbia, SC; 83 degrees F (on February 5) in
Hattiesburg, MS; and 85 degrees F (on February 6) in Jacksonville,
FL. Readings at or above 70 degrees F were noted as far north as
the Ohio Valley (70 degrees F in Evansville, IN, on February 5) and
the northern Mid-Atlantic region (72 degrees F in Atlantic City,
NJ, on February 6). Record warmth lingered along the Atlantic
Seaboard into February 7, when Melbourne, FL, attained 87 degrees
F. At week's end, warm weather returned to southern California,
where daily-record highs for February 9 included 86 degrees F in
Fullerton and 77 degrees F in San Diego. In stark contrast,
late-week temperatures dipped below -20 degrees F on the northern
Plains near the Canadian border. By Sunday morning, February 10,
minimum wind chill temperatures plunged as low as -58 degrees F in
Grand Marais, MN, -54 degrees F in Bottineau, ND, and -47 degrees F
in Antigo, WI.
National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural
Outlook Board.
For more information, call (202) 720-2397.
National Agricultural Summary
February 4 - 10, 2008
Small grain planting was active in Arizona but progress remained
behind last year and the average pace. California's recent rains
have improved the growth of oat, barley, winter forage, and wheat
fields. In Colusa County, wheat fields were flooded from the
previous week's rainfall. Sweet Potato hot bed planting had begun
and potato harvest continued. Pre-irrigation of cotton fields was
ongoing in Fresno County. Potato harvest also continued on the
Southern Peninsula of Florida. However, central Florida producers
were nearing completion of potato plantings. In Texas, the lack of
moisture continued to negatively impact small grains. Cotton
fieldwork continued on the Texas High Plains and harvest was
nearing completion on the Southern Low Plains. Potatoes were being
planted in South Texas and sugarcane harvest was ongoing in the
Lower Valley.
Arizona vegetable producers shipped broccoli, cabbage, Chinese
cabbage, miscellaneous Asian vegetables and herbs, parsley, and
spinach, Statewide. In central Arizona, producers marketed carrots
and greens as well, and in western Arizona, shipping of
cauliflower, celery, endive, escarole, frisee, and kale continued.
Arizona lettuce shipments included several different varieties,
Statewide. California producers were applying herbicides and
insecticides and fumigation of carrot and tomato hot beds
continued. Fresno County harvest continued for vegetables going to
farmer's markets and producers were weeding, fertilizing, and
further treating vegetable fields as early plantings were growing
well. Tulare County vegetable growers were preparing for spring
planting of outdoor vegetable fields. Greenhouse planting was
ongoing of eggplant and oriental vegetables while carrot harvest
continued. In Florida City, Florida, harvest and packing of beans,
corn, squash, and tomatoes was ongoing while in Fort Meyers,
collards, peppers, cabbage, kale, and Swiss chard harvest
continued, and in Palataka, harvest continued of multiple green
vegetable crops. In Plant City, producers were planting peppers
and squash, while marketing of endive, celery, escarole, radishes,
eggplant, and cucumbers continued.
California almond growers awaited bloom while some were clearing
downed trees from January winds. New planting of almond trees was
evident in some areas. Walnuts were pruned while dormant spraying
was taking place. In Fresno County, strawberries were growing
well. However, some southern California strawberries were
recovering from past damaging rains. Florida strawberries were in
full bloom in Plant City and in Sumter County, preparations were
underway for watermelon planting. Texas pecan and wine grape
pruning continued of trees and vines.
California early nectarine varieties began to bloom in Tulare
County, California, while other early stone fruit were in the
budding stage. Growers were organizing trapping programs and
making attempts at fertilizing, grafting, windrowing, shredding,
and application of chemicals, despite wet conditions. Mandarin,
minneola, navel orange, lemon, grapefruit, and pummelo harvest
continued across the State. Florida fertilizer applications and
irrigation continued, along with mowing, hedging, and topping.
Honey tangerine harvest, at just over one hundred thousand boxes
per week and was expected to pick up slightly in the coming week
while early to mid-season orange harvest continued at the level of
around 5 million boxes. Varieties harvested included early
mid-season, navel, and temple oranges. Grapefruit harvest also
continued, along with sunburst and honey tangerines and tangelos.
Texas citrus harvest continued in the Lower Valley region.
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