HDR1012000170100509951200WEEKLY WEATHER AND CROP BULLETIN HDR2012000170100509951200NAT'L WEATHER SUMMARY APR 30-MAY 6, 1995 National Weather Summary Volume 82, No. 19 April 30 - May 6, 1995 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A southward shift in the storm track brought much-needed dry weather to the upper Midwest, allowing fieldwork and planting to progress, albeit slowly due to persistent coolness. Elsewhere, a chain of three storm systems delivered cool, damp weather to the central Plains and eased dryness in the Mid-Atlantic region, but left some dry areas in the Southern Atlantic States. Late in the week, a powerful storm pushed through the Intermountain West, bringing more late-season precipitation to northern California and sparking damaging thunderstorms in the southern Plains. Early in the week, a sharp north-south temperature gradient existed across the Nation. On Sunday, highs in the Plains included 48 degrees F in Goodland, KS and 99 degrees F in San Angelo, TX. Locally heavy precipitation, including wet snow in the Black Hills, fell from western South Dakota to the Ozark Plateau. A day later, separate storms affected opposite ends of the Nation, producing daily-rainfall records in Fresno, CA (0.67 inches) and Charlotte, NC (1.75 inches). Brief clearing between storms allowed temperatures to drop to 34 degrees F in Kansas City, MO (a record for May 2) and 31 degrees F in Omaha, NE. At midweek, cool air filtered into the Southeast, while rain overspread the Northwestern and Central States. Macon, GA (42 degrees F) notched a daily- record low on Wednesday. A day later, showers quickly shifted eastward, yielding to a major spring storm. As early as Thursday, strong thunderstorms erupted from California and the Great Basin northward to the Snake River Plain. Strong winds swept across the Southwest. On Friday, powerful thunderstorms struck the central and southern High Plains. The storms produced more than 25 percent of the observed year-to- date precipitation in both Amarillo and Lubbock, TX. Farther east, a ferocious combination of rain (3 to 4 inches), large hail, and wind battered the Dallas- Ft. Worth area. Media accounts indicated that at least 18 people were killed, many due to flash flooding. Heat overspread the South in advance of the storm, with highs on Saturday reaching 102 degrees F in Lajitas, TX and 95 degrees F in Tampa, FL. In contrast, snow fell at elevations as low as 3,000 feet in southern California. By Saturday afternoon, 4 inches of snow covered Mt. Laguna. Elsewhere across the West, late-week snowfall included 3 inches in Ruth, NV and 13 inches at Snowbird in Utah's Wasatch Range. In northern and interior Alaska, weekly temperatures averaged up to 15 degrees F above normal. Highs at Fairbanks, AK reached or exceeded 70 degrees F on the first 4 days of the week, including 78 degrees F on Tuesday. By comparison, the highest temperature observed during the week in Grand Island, NE was 59 degrees F. HDR2012000170100509951200NAT'L AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY MAY 1-MAY 7, 1995 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY MAY 1 - 7, 1995 HIGHLIGHTS: Cool, wet weather across the central part of the Nation continued to hamper fieldwork, delay planting, and slow the development of emerged crops. In the upper Midwest and the Northeast, conditions were cool and dry, which allowed producers in those areas to begin or continue fieldwork where field conditions allowed. Across the Gulf Coast, conditions were sunny and warm, allowing fields to dry and fieldwork to continue. In the Southeast, conditions remained dry, causing germination problems in some fields. SMALL GRAINS: The Nation's winter wheat crop remained in mostly fair to good condition. About 35 percent(%) of the crop is headed, 3% ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Crop progress is ahead of normal in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, and Missouri. In Kansas, crop development had been ahead of the average, but the continued cool, damp conditions have slowed the development to last year and the average. Cool conditions also slowed crop development in Colorado. In the Southeast and parts of Texas, rain is needed to promote head filling. Spring wheat seeding was 23% complete, up 9 percentage points from last week but 44 points below the average. Saturated fields and low soil temperatures continued to block farmers from planting in the Dakotas. South Dakota's planting progress is 72 points behind the average. FIELD CROPS: Corn planted was 20% complete for the 17 major producing States, 35 points behind last year and 23 points below the average. Rainfall and low temperatures continued to hinder planting across the Corn Belt. Progress in Nebraska was 49 points behind last year and down 43 points from the average. In Missouri, wet fields, cool temperatures, and rain brought planting progress to a virtual stop. Drier conditions allowed planting progress in Minnesota to advance 31 points. In Texas, planting continued in the plains despite cool soil conditions. Cotton planting was 39% complete, 11 points behind last year but just 2 points behind the average. Cool, wet conditions in California limited planting progress and slowed crop growth. Lack of soil moisture caused germination problems for the crop in Georgia. In Texas, most producers in the plains waited for higher soil temperatures and rainfall before planting. Crop growth in the Texas Blacklands was behind normal. Sorghum planting was 24% complete for the 12 major producing States, up 4 points from last week but 2 points below the average. Field preparations continued in Kansas where conditions allowed. Planting started in the Texas plains and many fields in the Coastal Bend showed good development. However, many other fields in Texas needed moisture. Rice seeding was 66% complete, 14 points ahead of the average for the five major producing States. Rice emergence at 51% was 7 points ahead of last year and 21 points ahead of the average. Producers were planting and replanting some fields in Arkansas. In California, planting gained momentum. Planting proceeded in Texas with no problems reported. Range and Pasture Condition: Pasture feed condition in the Nation was rated 60% good to excellent. Pasture feed conditions were good in most areas except in the Upper Midwest and Northeast, where cool weather limited grass growth, and in the middle Atlantic and Southeastern States where dryness limited grass growth. HDR2012000170100509951200CROP PROGRESS FOR WK ENDING MAY 7, 1995 Corn: Percent Planted, Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1990- :-----------------------: 1990- State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 13 8 49 51 AR : 97 91 86 82 GA : 98 96 99 97 CA : 97 95 97 95 IL : 16 8 57 47 CO : 0 0 0 2 IN : 17 5 44 37 GA : 97 96 100 99 IA : 10 2 82 47 ID : 0 0 0 0 KS : 29 17 67 65 IL : 17 2 2 7 KY : 69 60 44 46 IN : 14 2 3 3 MI : 12 1 19 17 KS : 21 6 22 25 MN : 33 2 44 34 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 26 26 53 43 MO : 34 19 11 20 NE : 5 3 54 48 MT : 0 0 0 0 NC : 94 86 90 86 NE : 0 0 0 0 OH : 21 7 60 42 NC : 92 68 85 79 PA : 30 10 24 20 OH : 0 0 0 0 SD : 1 0 17 19 OK : 83 63 82 73 TX : 90 75 85 89 OR : 0 0 7 3 WI : 12 0 35 20 SD : 0 0 0 0 : TX : 67 46 57 62 17 Sts: 20 10 55 43 WA : 0 0 2 1 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 91% of the 19 Sts: 35 23 32 32 1994 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the 1994 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Planted, Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1990- :-----------------------: 1990- State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 60 51 56 62 ID : 82 81 94 85 AZ : 94 80 91 85 MN : 15 3 51 70 AR : 18 8 50 30 MT : 63 44 70 74 CA : 60 50 94 93 ND : 8 2 36 57 GA : 61 38 58 44 SD : 17 6 81 89 LA : 70 21 83 62 : MS : 45 27 83 47 5 Sts : 23 14 52 67 MO : 6 5 17 18 -------------------------------------- NM : 58 39 69 74 These 5 States produced 98% of the NC : 44 22 48 42 1994 spring wheat crop. OK : 5 4 9 7 SC : 44 24 63 50 TN : 20 15 28 23 Rice: Percent Planted, TX : 29 19 30 26 Selected States : -------------------------------------- 14 Sts: 39 25 50 41 : Week Ending : -------------------------------------- :-----------------------: 1990- These 14 States produced 99% of the State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 1994 cotton crop. : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent Sorghum: Percent Planted, : Selected States AR : 70 63 79 46 -------------------------------------- CA : 10 1 28 20 : Week Ending : LA : 87 67 81 76 :-----------------------: 1990- MS : 85 80 99 52 State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 TX : 75 70 88 80 : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. : -------------------------------------- 5 Sts : 66 57 75 52 : Percent -------------------------------------- : These 5 States produced 96% of the AR : 49 42 67 44 1994 rice crop. CO : 1 0 7 5 IL : 0 0 1 3 KS : 1 0 3 4 LA : 48 26 51 54 MS : 67 47 72 52 MO : 9 8 9 10 NE : 0 0 0 1 NM : 1 0 2 10 OK : 8 6 14 9 SD : 0 0 1 1 TX : 68 59 71 66 : 12 Sts: 24 20 26 24 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 98% of the 1994 sorghum crop. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1990- State:May 7, :Apr 30,:May 7, : 1994 : 1995 : 1995 : 1994 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 51 33 43 25 CA : 0 0 2 1 LA : 78 55 60 54 MS : 65 50 71 31 TX : 62 45 51 45 : 5 Sts : 51 35 44 30 -------------------------------------- These 5 States produced 96% of the 1994 rice crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 3 29 54 14 CA : 0 0 30 45 25 CO : 4 6 16 58 16 GA : 1 14 58 27 0 ID : 0 1 15 64 20 IL : 0 1 8 66 25 IN : 0 1 13 68 18 KS : 6 12 28 41 13 MI : 1 4 23 40 32 MO : 1 7 32 54 6 MT : 4 11 41 40 4 NE : 0 1 18 72 9 NC : 4 10 43 42 1 OH : 0 2 16 55 27 OK : 8 10 25 50 7 OR : 3 11 26 44 16 SD : 0 10 17 59 14 TX : 13 29 34 19 5 WA : 0 14 22 61 3 : 19 Sts : 5 11 26 47 11 : Prev Wk : 5 9 27 48 11 Prev Yr : 2 8 40 44 6 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 0 4 35 51 10 :: NJ : 0 0 80 20 0 AZ : 1 6 25 26 42 :: NM : 10 38 36 16 0 AR : 0 2 29 58 11 :: NY : 0 22 44 34 0 CA : 0 0 0 45 55 :: NC : 4 11 59 25 1 CO : 1 7 26 61 5 :: ND : 3 4 33 57 3 CT : 0 10 40 48 2 :: OH : 0 4 25 55 16 DE : 0 0 13 87 0 :: OK : 0 3 25 63 9 FL : 0 5 20 75 0 :: OR : 0 3 23 62 12 GA : 5 18 35 41 1 :: PA : 4 6 35 51 4 ID : 0 3 19 60 18 :: RI : 0 0 0 87 13 IL : 0 1 11 69 19 :: SC : 3 31 56 10 0 IN : 0 3 23 60 14 :: SD : 0 18 41 36 5 IA : 1 9 30 49 11 :: TN : 0 4 36 54 6 KS : 1 5 29 61 4 :: TX : 2 10 33 39 16 KY : 1 7 29 55 8 :: UT : 0 5 18 56 21 LA : 0 2 19 62 17 :: VT : 0 38 35 25 2 ME : 1 33 23 42 1 :: VA : 8 24 37 28 3 MD : 0 7 32 55 6 :: WA : 0 7 51 36 6 MA : 0 0 21 76 3 :: WV : 6 6 47 39 2 MI : 1 18 32 33 16 :: WI : 2 19 31 41 7 MN : 5 14 37 40 4 :: WY : 0 5 40 49 6 MS : 2 7 25 50 16 :: : MO : 1 9 34 49 7 :: 48 Sts : 1 9 30 48 12 MT : 1 21 35 41 2 :: : NE : 0 0 36 52 12 :: Prev Wk: NA NA NA NA NA NV : 0 0 18 41 41 :: Prev Yr: NA NA NA NA NA NH : 0 0 52 48 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent -MAY 6, 1995