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Volume 93, No. 03 http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/jawf/wweb.html U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Agricultural Statistics Service National Weather Service and World Agricultural Outlook Board Fercent OT Normal Frecipitation JAN DEC 2005 50 ioR esedf) 150°; 0. ; 2 AY AAO ASL ie ae iN LE ak1 a e AN: PARAL 1004 Le OG i ad CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER, NOAA 100X, Computer generated contours Based on preliminary datc HIGHLIGHTS Contents January 8 - 14, 2006 Water Supply Forecast for the Western United States Highlights provided by USDA/WAOB National Weather Data for Selected Cities =] ersistent storminess across the Northwest contrasted with January 10 Drought Monitor & extremely dry conditions in the Southwest. In between, Total Precipitation Map previously flood-affected areas of California and the western | Extreme Maximum & Minimum Temperature Maps Great Basin received only light precipitation until week's end, | Temperature Departure Map when heavier rain and snow arrived. Farther east, warm, windy, | National Agricultural Summary & Snow Cover Map mostly dry weather continued on the southern Plains, | 2005 United States Weather Review maintaining the threat of wildfires and severely stressing | 2005 U.S. Precipitation & Temperature Maps drought-stricken paeeee and winter grains. Only Pd — "any ee seas Price tagiahs precipitation fell across the northern and central Plains, where Ss : ; . : Monthly U.S. Crop Production Highlights conditions remained mostly favorable for wheat despite recent | 9995 National Weather Data for Selected Cities soil moisture reductions and a gradual loss of the crop's winter | |nternational Weather and Crop Summary hardiness. Weekly temperatures generally averaged 12 to 22°F | January 12 ENSO Update above normal across the northern Plains and the Corn Belt, | Subscription Information (Continued on page 9) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 18, 2006 Water Supply Forecast for the Western United States Highlights SNOTEL — River Basin Snow Water Content In a complete reversal of last Basin Average Snow Hater Content. « % of Average.) year’s record-high precipitation and snowpack, the Southwest is experiencing record-low snowpacks and _ below-normal “is precipitation. In a parallel twist, ete - last year’s record-low snowpacks ~~ o in the Pacific Northwest have been replaced with above-average : 12s 14 snowpacks and well-above-average 7 = precipitation in many river basins. id 1981,2 4 Northwestern wetness is in 9 «6994 response to a series of warm, sub- S& 32 30 tropical storms that have moved Report Date: through the region starting in JANUARY 17 , 2606 September and October 2005. The West has also experienced a warm : fall and winter, with temperatures ii bee. ranging from 2 to S°F above Based on Mountain Data from NRCS SNOTEL Sites Rs Srenge Reengoot the segion. —nagearoyn eal ey oy og National Resource Conservation Service Reno, Nevada Portland, Oregon Seasonal runoff forecasts for most Southwestern basins are for well- below-normal streamflows due to record-low snowpacks and a lack ofp recipitation. In contrast, spring SNOTEL — River Basin Precipitation and summer runoff is expected to be above average in many areas Basin Average Precipitation, ( % of Average.) farther north. Meanwhile, . OCTOBER 1 , 2005 thru JANUARY 17 , 2006 Figure 2 gue - reservoir storage is slightly below ; 105 . |10 s ee historic averages in all Western \ 97 97, toe . 104 \ States except Arizona and sd “her 1,128 \i3 pA105 5 119 California. fi16 iis ; “ \ 2¥* j{| 12aw4de rast its 134] 1i13T14i11S01" 70?2 j 130 Snowpack and \ is3 156 156 128 Precipitation {f 5j 11333q 132118 \} t10126 ° 193 1401 92 122 On January 17, 2006, the ‘ et “logs 98 snowpack map reflected extremely " low (less than 50 percent of Report Date: average) snowpacks in Arizona, JANUARY 17 , 2606 New Mexico, and _ southern portions of Colorado and Utah ( (figure 1). The scarcity of early- Provisional Data hed, R ¥ Based on Mountain Data from NRCS SNOTEL Sites season winter storms in the Southwest was the primary reason Data provided by Western Regional Climate Center Water and Climate Center Desert Research Institute National Resource Conservation Service for the extremely low snowpacks. Portiand> Oregon eee January 18, 2006 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin In parts of the Pacific Northwest, however, below-average snowpacks were due to Spring and Summer unusually warm weather. A series ofs trong Streamflow Forecasts winter storms resulted in season-to-date as of January 1, 2006 basin snowpacks greater than 150 percent of normal in parts of Oregon and California. Legend percent Season-to-date precipitation (October 1, 2005 - January 17, 2006) also showed below-average totals in the Southwest and near- to above-average amounts elsewhere (figure 2). Totals were less than 50 percent of average in Arizona and much of New Mexico, but were greater than 150 percent of average in some basins across California, Oregon, and northern Nevada. Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts As of January 1, 2006, a majority of river basins in the Southwest were forecast to experience well-below-average spring and summer streamflows (figure 3). Above- average streamflow is forecast for basins in central Oregon, southern Idaho, northern Nevada, western Colorado, eastern Utah, southern Wyoming, part of southwestern Montana, and the Sierra Nevada of central ip JIwerw WoC nrcS sU Sda gov California. Near- to slightly below-average streamflow is forecast for western Oregon, most of Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, northern Wyoming, Reservoir Storage as of January 1, 2006 southern Utah, and southwestern Colorado. Figure 4 gay Sbc ue Aueraye auum “Ue rage Gag Below Sucre Capacily of Reservoirs Repored (1000 Ac. Fi.) Reservoir Storage 318 RR 5H 456 RiH2 148 67 I6BB IMG 3280 52% alt an ee | ‘fae 5 :i e | > > CH) SF As of January 1, 2006, reservoir storage for all Western States was slightly below historic averages, except in Arizona and California (figure 4). In those two States, storage was above average. For More Information The National Water and Climate Center CPoUfsoe enratcbeelenn tt s homepage provides the latest available snowpack and water supply information. Please visit: 10 aT av an OR UT WA wy 2H2t 41S) TIT 1813 W268 = 1wWiN2 13813 Nuiba of Pesavars Repored http://www.wcec.nrcs.usda.gov Premed by USO* Ab tie! Racutes CoxenetSeuce Neto Waevart Climate Carey, Povtert or DARILER DY Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 18, 2006 National Weather Data for Selected Cities Weather Data for the Week Ending January 14, 2006 Data Provided by Climate Prediction Center (301-763-8000, Ext. 7503) RELATIVE [NUMOOBFFE DDAARYYSS ] | STAANTDE S TEMPERATURE ‘°F PRECIPITATION HPUEMRICDEINTTY |T EMP. F| PRECIP STATIONS AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRINAIGMEUE MX TREME EXTREME AVERAGDEE PNFAORRROTMMUA LRW EE ETINOK.T LALY, DEPFNAORRROTMMAU LR EGIN R E2IAN4.T -EHSOTU R,TI NO.,T DSAEILCN,O C1E PNCOTR.DS MEICNAOCL1E TINO.,T SJAAILNN,O C1E PNCOTR.SJ AMINNAOCL1E AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRIANIGMEU M B3A2NE DL OWI0 1N COMHRO RE5I 0N COMHRO RE BIRMINGHAM HUNTSVILLE ooono w woon ot 2°N©o N ooom™ n Waw o© MOBILE 2 & > es ro)N n a MONTGOMERY fez]f o) > ny ANCHORAGE N LS) = > owwo o BARROW oOno o FAIRBANKS = JUNEAU KODIAK NOME FLAGSTAFF PHOENIX TUCSON YUMA FORT SMITH LITTLE ROCK os—: BAKERSFIELD AgwvS oDwOn,2D -eoaLs=RoenaNOsSA n aGFoH@nnBO RNSuH O2wvWNHnOKGSHhOONe A 2 WWWOOOAONOOKA WA AN MMOAA WANN WN FRESNO onN > w LOS ANGELES REDDING SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO STOCKTON ADLa ah ALAMOSA L@-a +AoNwoBOoANoAnDDmLw S OSR AN00NS OAo NwoOyNr owoo CO SPRINGS uoN p nNN R for)W w DENVER INTL uoo a ©nS So GRAND JUNCTION ANHOMWNMHWAWNHADETOOWNDWAND PUEBLO BRIDGEPORT HARTFORD WASHINGTON SSSR8 eoOoNro eo on WILMINGTON 4]w oO= < DAYTONA BEACH JACKSONVILLE KEY WEST MIAMI ORLANDO PENSACOLA TALLAHASSEE TAMPA WEST PALM BEACH ATHENS ATLANTA AUGUSTA COLUMBUS MACON SAVANNAH HILO HONOLULU KAHULUI DOIMSDNDODWHhOBHO OAODDDRA DDHS BRODBHAANGDENANS LIHUE BOISE LEWISTON POCATELLO CHICAGO/O'HARE MOLINE PEORIA ROCKFORD SPRINGFIELD PRRRDPARROMOMYMDHRAMMMAANNAYNANANAN EVANSVILLE FORT WAYNE INDIANAPOLIS SOUTH BEND BURLINGTON CEDAR RAPIDS DES MOINES DUBUQUE SIOUX CITY WATERLOO CONCORDIA DODGE CITY S2BSBESSESKEPESEGFSSSESEESSENRSSSSSVSSRGANNSGAGAND GOODLAND 54 TOPEKA 51 NAA= BNNABTOADCCNO NOWNOONAFHHWHEWNBwOCC9 NCCe>ATOOOWCOOO BNOeY9TC wCeOANOODOOACo WO0 Ce D OCOOOCN OO- NO OH OABN-ATEM oN WDPH ECaAcOWE0HEeNRCRWCOWCAWOHBNeWCNAeWFNCWMCNoWAWONAoEDOEEoDAONNAMOOaAASWWNCOzHSHTEOOOCSAOOOMCBOHACASAO 9OWCONOSOWCCWOHOAAHWB0CTR0DA0TONDHN0O0AN0ON00HW AENNNNNFAWONNO DOTOOCONWOWFAABAEWOOOHANSE Based on 1971-2000 normals 9;CoooScCooAAOOOOOOCO0OoOOOOoOO oNOBo OAODOoOoOOOOOOOOOoK NV o oOoOOoEOoOoOO tc O OOooA vOoaoioOlaeMbooleO MoOeoeoeCeoCeeoeeeeeee°o January 18, 2006 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin § Weather Data for the Week Ending January 14, 2006 ; NUMBOFE DRAYS , STATES TEMPERATURE ‘F PRECIPITATION peeves aa AND PERCENT TEMP. ‘Fj PRECIP STATIONS LOW AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRIANGIMEU EMX TREME EXTREME AVERAGDEE PNFAORRROTMMUA RLE W EEITNOK.T LALY, DEPNFAORRROTMMUA RLE GI NR E2INA4. -THEOSUTR ,IT NO.,T DSAEILCN, COE1 NPCOTR.DS MEICANCOLE1 ITNO.,T JSAAILNN,OC 1E NPCOTR.JS MAINANOCL1E AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRIANGIMEU AA9M0BN DO VE BA32NE DL OWI0 1N CMOHRO RE5I 0N CMOHRO RE WICHITA nN © | a @ JACKSON LEXINGTON LOUISVILLE ©N kDD PADUCAH BATON ROUGE WW>www a nwn wn a©ao wroknnnsw LAKE CHARLES NEW ORLEANS SHREVEPORT CARIBOU PORTLAND BALTIMORE BOSTON 2SL RUBDwR R@WOSNR= >S WORCESTER ALPENA GRAND RAPIDS hSBnhL w wSO SnENNSDINS RLSSSSSHSRSE BCSRNOOHAOLOSHNLD DW DONHA OG HOUGHTON LAKE woa LANSING > nN oO = MUSKEGON TRAVERSE CITY >o on ©@ oo DULUTH INT'L FALLS MINNEAPOLIS ROCHESTER ST. CLOUD JACKSON 2NaSVNnE " E_ERENE OooOnm© mOeanR k=3B MERIDIAN TUPELO a> @N oaoo COLUMBIA yno @ a KANSAS CITY ~ > SAINT LOUIS w@o iwS) SPRINGFIELD BILLINGS cocoAWYWRNcOB HEoO A cNNY=HWHoA WMA“H oWEH WNoHAENoHCOH0BA0oNCo 0 NCHH 02ONo 9H OoNB0R eAOW4cUwN2eMaWeNTnoWHAeoOMWooA0UecU0oHAo0eWM0ocEBeFcEMe 0EoA eNNoAUeAAeMoDWeHWoAHeOAoCc OoOCNcHo CoCoeoee BUTTE iSRLLS : . * rf . : ; * . : CUT BANK GLASGOW GREAT FALLS HAVRE MISSOULA GRAND ISLAND LINCOLN NORFOLK NORTH PLATTE OMAHA SCOTTSBLUFF VALENTINE ELY LAS VEGAS RENO WINNEMUCCA CONCORD NEWARK ALBUQUERQUE ALBANY BINGHAMTON OO>@a-= MnnO Oom WOONNNOW BUFFALO > @ ROCHESTER uo = SYRACUSE ASHEVILLE CHARLOTTE GREENSBORO HATTERAS RALEIGH WILMINGTON BISMARCK DICKINSON FARGO GRAND FORKS JAMESTOWN WILLISTON AKRON-CANTON CINCINNATI CLEVELAND 51 COLUMBUS DAYTON 4g MANSFIELD 51 SSSUOWMPEN NFN NOW HRPWAWNENW RWO ScOCH0COeOCoCN CH0OOO OoCNNCOoTNCNOsOOHCNeOHCHRsNCH 3ZoF 2CNNO=CO0CNo0DNC0COc0CNAA CENoCNNoWOoNeNN°NNcNo WNONUMNWWONNkFRRNONONNOHOONCOMO H Based on 1971-2000 normals 3c oNoot oAvoaiolaobloe oooooocoooooooooocoooocoooocoooocooooocoeoc:e Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 18, 2006 Weather Data for the Week Ending January 14, 2006 STATES TEMPERATURE ‘F PRECIPITATION HUMIDITY an a AND PERCENT pr m = 2 wv STATIONS > a AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRIANIGMEU M EXTLROEWM E AVERAGDEE PNFAORRROMTMAU LR WEE ETINOK.T LAYL, DEPNFAORRROTMMUA RLE GI NR E2INA4. -THEOSUTR ,TI NO.,T SDAIELNC,C OE1 NPCOTRD.S MEICNAOCLE1 TINO.,T JSAAILN,NO C1E NPCOTR.JS MAINNAOCL1E AVEMRAAXGIEM AUVME MRIANIGMEU g28M I01N CMOHRO RE5I 0N CMOHRO RE TOLEDO > a wo ok A abii )> fo)~ N nN 0 0 YOUNGSTOWN uoN D ~ b fo2]o chW=e on n @ oO fez)n N 0 0 OKLAHOMA CITY fo2)o 0 0 TULSA fo2)o ePna wN ~O oono >N w oo 0 0 ASTORIA uo= nNOo-WW ow W oNfoot nNc o2)i S) © a eo oa 0 4 BURNS @ © °o iyS o _ w p © So ~ o 0 0 EUGENE onS o © 54 © N 0 1 MEDFORD > oe © o @o = 0 2 PENDLETON onN ~ a ro)= 0 1 PORTLAND uo = nB-o=OS~ o O=s2woo=foBoORg-No=gR~oBb0aOoAEN D wo NR oo oI 0 3 SALEM ND > ur 0 3 ALLENTOWN 0 1 ERIE 0 1 MIDDLETOWN aSOOn NanN 0 0 PHILADELPHIA 0 1 PITTSBURGH =o<wB2y ocoRna boBrm Ro BosoLL-l=s0Sa0s o8=On woNnLwoOnAOnno NN 0=D |A08 0 0 WILKES-BARRE © N n ro) 0 2 WILLIAMSPORT 0 1 PROVIDENCE 0 1 BEAUFORT 0 0 CHARLESTON 0 0 COLUMBIA 0 0 GREENVILLE 0 1 ABERDEEN 0 0 HURON omOOoBOS LOoN CSoOM oBDoMcOWoONcNWcBUoAoYcNNoWNoAcONnWH]BFeOo W W 0 0 RAPID CITY 0 0 SIOUX FALLS 0 0 BRISTOL 0 0 CHATTANOOGA 0 1 KNOXVILLE 0 1 MEMPHIS 0 1 NASHVILLE 0 1 ABILENE 0 0 AMARILLO 0 0 AUSTIN 0 0 BEAUMONT o@OO DODmMWn0N woOoOanvo0 wDaODODo BROWNSVILLE 0 0 CORPUS CHRIST 0 0 DEL RIO 0 0 EL PASO RAw+o WN DN WA0 UHMNMDEAN0 WNNUDSE FORT WORTH = 0 0 GALVESTON 0 0 HOUSTON SSB2EBVS0S LRBFSSSS0 GSHUGDAGNERBRONSGD LUBBOCK urL S] ab N 0 0 MIDLAND 0 0 SAN ANGELO 0 0 SAN ANTONIO 0 0 VICTORIA uenu- rc +oonwNN2 HS &+ O N N 0 0 WACO ~ oO WwN R 0 0 WICHITA FALLS akob cocowooooo-+0 ccoos 0 SALT LAKE CITY 0 0 BURLINGTON WADHOHIW ASMWNAFN @H WSHO UUONN 0 0 LYNCHBURG 0 1 NORFOLK 0 0 RICHMOND 0 1 ROANOKE 0 1 WASH/DULLES wOO®hY uO O®nNW o0O nwna 0 OLYMPIA 0 5 QUILLAYUTE 0 4 SEATTLE-TACOMA ©@@& O SPOOnNNOA0 N 5 SPOKANE «—N=aN=-Y S NS 8SINRsss0 s 1 YAKIMA 0 0 BECKLEY 0 0 CHARLESTON 0 1 ELKINS 0 0 HUNTINGTON 0 0 EAU CLAIRE 0 0 GREEN BAY &eaoo m wwno owmno0n omanwvowoe0 m LA CROSSE 0 0 MADISON 0 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 CASPER 0 0 CHEYENNE 0 0 LANDER 40 ~ oe 0 cseascGGLaaWbG=dOISROB3AROShaGRDlet2ekblhON.seEeSNy eSDID:asiL p e oR :N N RO:G ES GSN W E.O N )I Ss. O 0 SHERIDAN 51 ~ Ww 0 i] ehcOOOCOaASCNOSA.Ni1eON AgN4OhWNiYiWEO0nG6eI a d eS6. SO NA N N8 NN On0 E RS Based on 1971-2000 normals *** Not Available January 18, 2006 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin U. Ss Drought Monitor JanuaVarlidy 7 a.1m.0 ,ES T 2006 Drought intensity: Drought impact Types: [3] DO Abnormally Dry tf Delineates dominant impacts Wi (D1 ~D rought - Moderate A= Agricultural (crops, pastures, {1 D2 Drought - Severe grasslands) ZA D3 Drought - Extreme H = Hydrological (water) fq D4 Drought - Exceptional USDA The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. aa Nationt eMiti gation Local conditions may vaty. See accompanying text summary for forecast statements. Released Thursday, January 12, 2006 http://drought.unl.edu/dm Author: Douglas Le Comte, CPC/NCEP/NWS/NOAA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 18, 2006 January 18, 2006 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (Continued from front cover) Departure of Average Temperature from Normal (°F) and were above normal for the third JAN 8 - 14, 2006 consecutive week nearly nationwide. Meanwhile, significant precipitation (mostly rain) from the middle Mississippi Valley eastward aggravated muddy conditions for some Midwestern and Northeastern livestock. Elsewhere, two rounds of showers and thunderstorms swept across the South, although only light precipitation fell in most drought-affected areas west of the Delta. In the Southeast, thunderstorms maintained generally favorable soil moisture reserves but caused local wind and hail damage. At week's end, rain changed to snow from the Appalachians into the Northeast. Unusually warm weather continued in many areas for a third consecutive week, resulting in more than 100 additional daily-record highs. On January 8, Waco, TX (82°F), posted its fifth daily-record high since the start of the year. In contrast, in Greenwood, MS. From January 13 into the early hours of the lingering cool weather in Florida produced a record low for following day, more than a dozen tornadoes were observed from January 8 in Vero Beach (30°F). A day later, however, daily- southern Alabama and western Florida into southeastern record warmth returned to Eastern locations such as Asheville, Virginia. Two tornado-related fatalities were reported—one near NC (68°F), and Roanoke, VA (66°F). A new surge of warmth Belleville, in Conecuh County, AL, and the other near Baker, in reached the West Coast on January 10 and migrated to the Plains Okaloosa County, FL. Farther north, late-week (January 14-15) by midweek. In the Pacific Northwest, records for January 10 wind gusts locally topped 60 m.p.h., while storm-total snowfall included 59°F in Pendleton, OR, and 50°F in Spokane, WA. exceeded 10 inches at a few locations across the interior The following day, highs soared to daily-record levels in Northeast, including parts of western Massachusetts. National Lubbock, TX (75°F), and Goodland, KS (70°F). On January 12, Weather Service offices in Mt. Holly, NJ, and Upton, NY, record highs were scattered across Southern, Midwestern, and received 5.5 and 4.1 inches of snow, respectively. Eastern locations such as Wichita Falls, TX (80°F), New Bern, In contrast, storminess barely dented impressive precipitation NC (74°F), and Dubuque, IA (51°F). Atlantic City, NJ (61°F), deficits across the southern Plains and the Southwest. On also collected a record high for January 12, followed by a January 9-10, snowfall locally in excess of 4 inches blanketed 4.7-inch snowfall and wind gusts as high as 48 m.p.h. on January parts of northern and western Oklahoma. Later in the week, 14 -15. Toward week’s end, warmth made yet another push Flagstaff, AZ, finally received its first measurable snowfall of the across the West, contributing record highs for January 13 in season (0.1 inch) on January 15, more than | week after breaking Tucson, AZ (78°F), and Reno, NV (62°F). On January 14, its all-time record of January 7, 1930. Meanwhile, the streak of Valentine, NE, came within 1°F of its monthly record high (72°F days without a drop of rain reached 89 days (October 19 - January on January 12, 1987), while daily records were set or tied at about 15) in Phoenix, AZ, approaching its September 1999 - January three dozen locations from the Plains westward, including Rapid 2000 all-time record of 101 days. In western Texas, Lubbock’s City, SD (69°F), and McCook, NE (70°F). The period from spell without measurable precipitation climbed to 80 days December 21 - January 15 was the warmest such period on record (October 28 - January 15), nearing its October 1921 - January in Billings, MT, where the 26-day average temperature of 40.5°F 1922 all-time mark of 85 days. During the first 15 days of the supplanted its 1980-81 standard of 37.0°F. year, wildfires charred more than 500,000 acres (approximately Billings received snowfall totaling just 0.1 inch during the 26-day 790 square miles) of vegetation nationwide. Most of the fires warm spell second only to a trace from December 21, 1954 to flared across the South Central United States, although a 5,500- January 15, 1955. In the West Glacier region of northwestern acre blaze was reported in the Nebraska National Forest near Montana, however, 24-hour snowfall totals on January 14-15 Halsey, NE. reached 3 feet at Grave Creek and Flattop Mountain, while Much of Hawaii continued to experience warm, drier-than- 23.5 inches fell at nearby Cool Creek, ID. Farther west, normal weather. On Kauai, Lihue noted a daily record-tying Olympia, WA, observed at least 29 consecutive days (December high of 82°F on January 12. However, month-to-date rainfall 18 - January 15) with measurable precipitation, totaling 15.78 through January 15 was less than 15 percent of normal in inches. Olympia’s longest such spell was 33 straight days of rain locations such as Kahului, Maui (0.13 inch, or 7 percent of from January 6 - February 7, 1953. Elsewhere in Washington, normal), and Lihue (0.25 inch, or 11 percent). Mostly dry Seattle’s streak of 27 consecutive days (December 19 - January weather also prevailed in Alaska, although bitterly cold air 14) with measurable rain ended on January 15. Nevertheless, overspread western parts of the State. Weekly temperatures Seattle experienced its wettest 25-day period on record, netting averaged 14°F below normal in Kotzebue, aided by a low of 12.80 inches from December 20 - January 13 (previously, 12.16 -38°F on January 10. Meanwhile, January 1-15 Alaskan inches from November 19 - December 13, 1998). Across the precipitation totals were less than one-tenth of an inch in remainder of the Nation, selected daily-record totals included McGrath (0.07 inch, or 0.49 inch below normal) and Fairbanks 2.64 inches (on January 10) in Crescent City, CA; 2.17 inches (a trace, or 0.30 inch below normal). (on January 14) in Bangor, ME; and 1.09 inches (on January 13) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 18, 2006 National Agricultural Summary January 9 - 15, 2006 Weekly National Agricultural Summary provided by USDA/NASS HIGHLIGHTS For the third consecutive week, Warm weather in California has deterred above-normal temperatures prevailed dormancy in fruit trees and caused nationwide. Throughout the northern Great blooming in some orchards, while lingering Plains and most of the Corn Belt and Ohio wet conditions in some areas caused Valley, average temperatures exceeded the worsened small grain condition and delayed normal by over 15 degrees Fahrenheit, vegetable harvest. In Texas, winter wheat causing further depletion of protective snow condition was rated mostly poor to very cover in these regions. Dry conditions poor due to extremely warm temperatures persisted in the Great Plains and Southwest, and dry, windy conditions. Planting of other further depleting soil moisture. However, small grains was slowed by extremely dry moderate precipitation in the upper Delta and soils. Warm weather in Georgia increased eastern Corn Belt was beneficial for winter insect activity and the spread of disease in wheat in those areas. Moderate to heavy pastures but improved small grain condi- precipitation in the Pacific Northwest tions. In Florida, recent cool temperatures improved soil moisture in the inland crop slowed vegetable development, but mostly producing areas while increasing snowpack dry weather over the central and southern in the higher elevations. An outbreak of Peninsula encouraged planting and severe weather across the Southeast and harvesting. middie Atlantic Coast spawned severalreports of tornadoes, hail, and high winds. United States Snow Depth (Inches) Minor wheat area eee Major wheat area January 17, 2006 i Values >= 10 are printed in a larger font 2 Snow depth at 12Z The NWS cooperative network is the principal source of the snow depth reports ‘~ NOAA/USDA JOINT AGRICULTURAL WEATHER FACILITY