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o ,", (.I,) N (lQ ~ 14 1990 CF(OP/WEATHER SUMMARY JANUARY Second week! saw reoord high temperatures, but the remainder of tbe month temperatures w~re generally below normal. Widely soattered snow showers occurred during most of the mbnth. Low temperatures hard on newborn calves and farf,bs. Chopping lee for IIvestook water was widespread. ' FEBRUARY. The month .ta~ed with guety winds and scattered light preolpltatlon. Aj low pressure system at mid-month brought bli~zard conditl~ns to the west with 12 to 18 inohes of snow In the ex(reme west. Temperatures were generally below normal most of the month but returned to normal by the end of It. Livestock feeding operations and movement of potatoes to m$rket were hampered by snowstorms, Snow cover Was helpf~1 for winter grain fields. MARCH March started with above normal temperatures and light scattered preolp~ation. A series of Pacific storms then came produolng '~now showers in the mountains and rain on the valley floors. Strong, gusty winds were common throughout the n1onth. March ended relatively mild with temperatures averaging about 10 degrees above normal. Scattered shower. and cold, gusty winds delayed start of fieldwork. ' APRIL ' April started with 4bove normal temperatures but only light soattered precipitation. Heavier rain showers came at mld~ month and temperatures were lower but still about normal. The remainder pI the month had below normal temperatures whlo~ tended to slow vegetative growth considerably. Spflng planting was generally ahead of normal. About ~ of the calving, lambing and shearing was completed by .he end ot the month. Mormon crickets were a threat to agrlculturel mainly in Humboldt County, MAY May started with Iig~t rain or snow showers. Weather the rest of the month varied from coldj wet and windy to some warm daytime temptratures. Vegetative killing frosts were common throughout the month. Above normal winds during the month t made Irrigation operations, difficult. Planting of small gr,dns and potatoes was completed by the end of the month. Movement of oattle and sheep to summer ranges abo~t 90% complete. JUNE June began with below normal temperatures and some freezing weather In e~t and extreme northern areas. About mid-month talrly heal/y rainfall swept across much of the northeast, south oentr.' and extreme south. By the end of the month a dry, i warm air mass dominated, and temperatures averaged well above normal. Gusty winds were common duringl the entire month. Only about 65 percent of the spring wheat, oats, and barley was headed by month'. end. AboUt SO% of the first cuttings of alfelle hay were completed. JULY July started with near normal temperatures and soattered light showers, but by mid-month typical hot, 'dry weather prevailed. Widely scattered thunderstorms failed to produoe measurable precipitation. Hot summer weather continued throughout the remainder of the month. About 70% of the winter wheat, 75% of the oats, and 65% of the spring wheat and barley were harvested. Second cuttings of alfalfa were about 70% complete. About 90% of the potato crop was in the blooming stage. AUGUST August began with mostly hot, dry weather. Isolated thunderstorms followed and produced more lightning and gusty winds than rain. A cold, low.pressure 'system mid~ month lowered temperature dramatically. Hotl dry weather returned by the end of the month. About 50% of the third cuttings of alfalfa Were oompleted. All of the wild hay was cut. Small grain harvest was in the windup stage, and harvest of alfalfa seed was In' full swing by month's end. SEPTEMBER September started with above normal temperatures and no preCipitation. The, second week was mostly dry and warm. low.pressure systems the third week provided thunderstorms and more seasonable temperatures in all areas. Temperatures averaged well above normal for the entire month. Harvesting the alfalfa seed crop was completed about mid-month in Pershing County and nearly finished in other areas. Rains and frosts delayed diggIng the potato crop. and only about 20% was out of the ground by month's end.. OCTOBER October began with rain and thunderstorm activity in most areas. A high~pressure system followed, reSUlting in sunny days and slightly above normal temperatures. The first significant cold, front of the fall came at mid~month, and temperatures fell below normal in all areas. LIght rainfall fell over most areas during the thIrd week. Potato and onion harvests were completed earlier than usual. All of the garlic and winter wheat were planted by month's end. NOVEMBER November started with dry conditions and temperatures well above normal. A few weak, cold fronts followed and kept cloud cover over most areas with some light precipitation. The month ended with a cold front bringing rain, snow and much colder weather. Livestock feeding operations were facilitated by the open Weather. DECEMBER December began with close to normal temperatures. Low- pressure systems followed but brought little precipitation to most of the state. About mld~month an Arctic front brought snow and record low temperatures statewide. The Arctic front moderated by month's endl but high temperatures were still below zero in several northern locations. low temperatures increased livestock stress and feeding requirements. -