HDR1012000170101029961200WEEKLY WEATHER AND CROP BULLTIN Released October 29, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Greg Preston at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV. National Weather Summary Volume 83, No. 43 October 20 - 26, 1996 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Strong, Pacific-origin storms continued to traverse the Western and Central States, delivering heavy rain and snow, high winds, and cold weather. East of the primary storm track, rainfall topped 4 inches in the Arklatex early in the week, and again in the Delta toward week's end. Early- to midweek rains slowed harvest and fieldwork activities in the Midwest, particularly the western Corn Belt. Meanwhile across southern California, seasonal Santa Ana winds, enhanced by the storms' passages, sparked wildfires. Farther east, a slow- moving storm system lingered over New England early in the week, inundating southern Maine with as much as 19 inches of rain. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F above normal from the Great Lakes to New England, but 5 to 15 degrees F below normal across the interior West. While the West's cold snap reached 2 weeks, Alaska's persisted for a seventh consecutive week and intensified, as temperatures on the mainland averaged 10 to 22 degrees F below normal. In southern Maine, October 20-22 storm totals reached 19.19 inches in Camp Ellis, 19.00 inches in Gorham, and 12.55 inches in Portland. Most (10.53 inches) of Portland's total fell in 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday, eclipsing their former record of 7.83 inches set during Hurricane Bob on August 18-19, 1991. In Boston, MA, 6.66 inches of their 7.92-inch total fell in 24 hours on October 20-21, an October record and second all-time to an 8.40-inch total during Hurricane Diane on August 18-19, 1955. By storm's end, October rainfall records were broken in locations such as Boston (10.37 inches) and Portland (14.12 inches). High winds also buffeted the region, resulting in peak gusts to 62 mph at the Blue Hill Observatory (near Boston) and 60 mph on Maine's Matinicus Island. Meanwhile, a pair of early-week storms kept the Plains and the West cool and stormy. One system tracked through the North-Central States, producing 5.8 inches of snow in Williston, ND. Another storm took form farther south, traveling from the Southwest to the Great Lakes States on October 21-23. Significant snow fell from the Four Corners region to the central Plains, including Tuesday totals that shattered former October records in Kansas City, MO (6.5 inches) and Topeka, KS (8.0 inches). Farther west, snow depths on Tuesday morning stood at 3 inches as far south as Clovis, NM. Elsewhere on October 22, Wichita, KS noted their earliest measurable snowfall (0.2 inches), while Tulsa, OK reported their earliest snowflakes. The system weakened as it turned northward, leaving the western Corn Belt with primarily rain. Farther west, very cold weather arrived as a high-pressure system settled over the Great Basin, resulting in about five dozen daily-record lows. South of the high, strong easterly winds swept across southern California, fanning flames . Lows on Sunday dipped to 18 degrees F at both Yakima, WA and Reno, NV. A day later, Ely, NV logged -1 degrees F. On Tuesday, the daily-record chill spread onto the Plains, where Pueblo, CO registered 10 degrees F. The season's first freeze overspread the western portion of the Texas Plains cotton area, where Midland (30 degrees F) tallied a daily-record low. In advance of the cool-air surge, strong thunderstorms peppered the Arklatex on October 21-22. A near repeat of the early-week scenario occurred toward week's end. While one storm traversed the northern Plains, another evolved over the Southwest. On October 24-25, heavy rain erupted from southeastern Texas to the Delta, boosting weekly rainfall to 9.19 inches in Lake Charles, LA and 3.88 inches in Memphis, TN. Meanwhile, heavy snow returned to much of the West. In South Dakota, a stunning 38.9 inches blanketed Lead on October 25-26, breaking their own 24-hour State record set on October 9, 1982. Elsewhere on Saturday, snowfall reached 4.3 inches in Casper, WY and 3.0 inches in Bismarck, ND. East of the storm's center, southerly winds gusted to 59 mph in Sioux City, IA and 56 mph in Norfolk, NE. Heavy precipitation also developed over the Southwest, where Tucson, AZ measured a 1.61 inches of rain on Saturday. Snow depths reached 9 inches in Red River, NM and 10 inches in Greer, AZ at week's end. Alaska's recent cold wave climaxed on Friday, as lows plummeted to October- record levels in Arctic Village (-42 degrees F), Fort Yukon (-38 degrees F), Eagle (-32 degrees F), and Circle City (-31 degrees F). After a low of -25 degrees F, Fairbanks' high of -3 degrees F represented their earliest sub-zero maximum on record. In contrast, warm, drier-than-normal weather prevailed in Hawaii, where daily-record- tying highs included 93 degrees F in Kahului (on Sunday) and 90 degrees F in Honolulu (on Monday). Warmth also arrived in the Gulf Coast region at week's end. In Florida, Ft. Myers ended the week with a trio of daily-record highs at or above 90 degrees F. On Friday in Texas, Corpus Christi's daily-record high of 90 degrees F occurred only 2 days after a daily-record low of 41 degrees F. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY October 21 - 27, 1996 HIGHLIGHTS: Widespread rains over the western Corn Belt slowed the row-crop harvest. An early fall snowstorm left fields too wet for harvest activity in the central Great Plains and Mountain States. Grain moisture levels remained high in some late-maturing row-crop fields in the central Great Plains, where above-freezing temperatures some plants in need of a hard frost to halt plant growth and aid drying. Thunderstorms in the Delta and Gulf Coast region delayed harvest activity and caused some damage to cotton fields with open bolls. Dry weather over most of the Southeast allowed harvest progress to advance. Rain in parts of the mid-Atlantic damaged plants and left fields too wet for harvest activity and caused some corn ears to sprout. Heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest halted fieldwork. In the upper High Plains, recently planted small grains received much-needed moisture. Rain and snowstorms delayed fieldwork in the Dakotas for most of the week. The winter wheat crop in the 19 major producing States was 90 percent (%) planted, up 5 percentage points from last week, and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Winter wheat emerged for the major producing States was 74% complete, up 11 points from last week and 4 points ahead of the average. Planting progress in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio was 9 points behind the average due to the prolonged row-crop harvest. Winter wheat seeding in the eastern Corn Belt was about 1 week behind normal, and some winter wheat was seeded in wet fields. Wheat acreage seeded in Texas, at 95% complete, was 15 points ahead of the average, while winter wheat emerged was 25 points ahead. Spraying for armyworms continued in the Texas High Plains, where damage from the insects was declining due to cooler weather. Many wheat producers in California were waiting for rain before planting. Corn harvested at 45% complete was up 15 points from last week but 15 points behind normal. Wet weather and high moisture levels slowed the corn harvest in the Corn Belt. In Indiana, the corn harvest was 16 days behind the average. Corn harvested in Illinois and Iowa was 21 points behind the average. Cotton acreage harvested was estimated at 53%, up 8 points from last week, but 1 point behind the average. Cotton defoliation neared completion in California's San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, where harvested fields were promptly shredded and disced for pink bollworm control. Frost in the Texas High Plains reduced the need for defoliation and killed bollworm larvae in small cotton bolls, but damaged some immature bolls. Sorghum harvested, at 59% complete, was up 9 points from the previous week but 12 points below the average. In Nebraska, sorghum harvested, at 28% complete, was up 13 points from last week, but 38 points behind the average. The high grain moisture levels and wet fields slowed sorghum harvest activity in the central Great Plains. Cold weather in the Texas High Plains damaged some late- planted sorghum fields. Soybean acreage harvested, at 73%, was up 10 points from last week but 8 points less than the average. In Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio, harvest advanced 14 points from last week. Ohio's soybean harvest at 59% complete was 30 points behind normal. Harvesting of Indiana's soybeans was 14 days behind the average. Widespread rain slowed the soybean harvest in the western Corn Belt. Producers in Missouri concentrated on completing the soybean harvest as weather permitted. A frost in Tennessee ended the growing season for soybeans and helped the plants shed leaves. Corn: Percent Harvested, Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : CO : 67 36 38 50 AL : 49 32 40 37 GA : 96 95 98 98 AR : 51 38 61 49 IL : 50 35 88 71 GA : 25 11 12 18 IN : 32 23 84 61 IL : 74 60 97 93 IA : 35 17 69 56 IN : 67 54 97 91 KS : 81 70 82 84 IA : 91 83 97 95 KY : 80 75 93 84 KS : 73 61 88 81 MI : 21 13 59 38 KY : 35 23 67 50 MN : 53 25 70 50 LA : 86 85 86 70 MO : 70 62 67 70 MI : 64 40 90 72 NE : 45 22 54 57 MN : 99 95 88 92 NC : 92 88 95 92 MS : 74 66 83 59 OH : 22 15 62 50 MO : 60 46 76 70 PA : 35 30 67 40 NE : 98 91 93 94 SD : 37 19 50 47 NC : 13 8 11 13 TX : 97 94 96 98 OH : 59 45 91 89 WI : 25 12 65 42 SC : 10 5 4 9 : SD : 95 84 81 86 17 Sts: 45 30 72 60 TN : 23 18 46 36 -------------------------------------- : These 17 States produced 93% of the 19 Sts: 73 63 85 81 1995 corn crop. -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 94% of the 1995 soybean crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 41 34 51 46 AR : 21 11 22 26 CA : 15 10 7 6 CA : 5 1 2 2 CO : 99 98 98 100 CO : 93 89 91 93 GA : 9 6 16 11 GA : 6 3 7 7 ID : 95 91 87 91 ID : 66 53 58 62 IL : 77 57 90 86 IL : 48 22 57 61 IN : 78 60 90 87 IN : 52 26 63 62 KS : 97 94 98 97 KS : 80 74 82 81 MI : 93 82 97 92 MI : 66 40 80 74 MO : 65 51 78 68 MO : 42 24 44 43 MT : 99 95 97 93 MT : 70 61 80 70 NE : 100 99 100 100 NE : 97 91 98 98 NC : 30 25 31 33 NC : 16 7 12 16 OH : 82 64 99 91 OH : 53 26 70 63 OK : 94 90 91 92 OK : 72 57 52 67 OR : 90 81 79 79 OR : 64 43 47 47 SD : 100 97 100 100 SD : 84 81 91 96 TX : 95 91 79 80 TX : 87 78 58 62 WA : 98 97 96 94 WA : 92 91 86 78 : : 19 Sts: 90 85 89 88 19 Sts: 74 63 68 70 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- These 19 States produced 92% of the These 19 States produced 92% of the 1995 winter wheat crop. 1995 winter wheat crop. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- :-----------------------: 1991- State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AL : 68 53 78 63 AL : 82 71 90 91 AZ : 44 35 39 60 FL : 91 80 NA NA AR : 80 68 80 71 GA : 89 73 93 92 CA : 50 42 19 49 NC : 68 55 72 75 GA : 54 45 61 49 OK : 62 49 63 59 LA : 94 82 96 85 SC : 81 74 84 76 MS : 89 78 93 75 TX : 51 36 41 42 MO : 69 62 77 75 VA : 92 85 96 94 NM : 33 21 30 24 : NC : 50 35 46 48 8 Sts : 78 64 79 78 OK : 19 10 9 26 -------------------------------------- SC : 65 54 46 46 These 8 States produced 99% of the TN : 76 73 67 66 1995 peanut crop. TX : 28 24 43 41 : 14 Sts: 53 45 56 54 -------------------------------------- These 14 States produced 99% of the 1995 cotton crop. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1991- State:Oct 27,:Oct 20,:Oct 27,: 1995 : 1996 : 1996 : 1995 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 96 98 97 CO : 56 39 58 45 IL : 31 19 63 67 KS : 58 45 79 66 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 97 100 98 MO : 66 58 72 73 NE : 28 15 88 66 NM : 7 1 21 27 OK : 29 20 29 34 SD : 78 56 70 65 TX : 75 71 90 87 : 12 Sts: 59 50 80 71 -------------------------------------- These 12 States produced 99% of the 1995 sorghum crop. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- : Percent : Percent : : AR : 0 0 36 61 3 AL : 2 2 14 67 15 CA : 0 0 45 55 0 AZ : 4 12 46 34 4 CO : 1 2 16 58 23 AR : 0 4 36 51 9 GA : 0 0 15 84 1 CA : 0 0 0 45 55 ID : 0 0 12 65 23 GA : 1 4 37 47 11 IL : 0 1 18 63 18 LA : 1 12 49 37 1 IN : 0 2 46 42 10 MS : 1 4 33 48 14 KS : 0 0 13 71 16 MO : 0 10 28 57 5 MI : 1 7 41 32 19 NM : 1 1 15 52 31 MO : 0 0 19 69 12 NC : 1 4 38 50 7 MT : 0 7 65 26 2 OK : 4 35 28 30 3 NE : 0 3 27 60 10 SC : 0 5 25 65 5 NC : 5 12 32 48 3 TN : 0 2 16 66 16 OH : 0 3 26 60 11 TX : 8 15 27 32 18 OK : 0 2 23 67 8 : OR : 0 4 61 28 7 14 Sts : 4 9 28 43 16 SD : 4 1 26 45 24 : TX : 1 7 36 44 12 Prev Wk : 3 10 28 44 15 WA : 0 5 36 51 8 Prev Yr : 0 0 0 0 0 : -------------------------------------- 19 Sts : 0 3 26 58 13 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 1 8 33 51 7 -------------------------------------- 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 3 37 56 4 :: NJ : 0 0 0 100 0 AZ : 14 17 33 29 7 :: NM : 4 13 34 42 7 AR : 0 16 40 40 4 :: NY : 0 0 25 75 0 CA : 5 20 60 15 0 :: NC : 1 5 28 58 8 CO : 3 7 26 54 10 :: ND : 2 20 42 34 2 CT : 0 0 0 100 0 :: OH : 3 10 34 45 8 DE : 0 0 5 95 0 :: OK : 0 3 20 59 18 FL : 0 0 35 65 0 :: OR : 1 48 36 15 0 GA : 0 7 38 49 6 :: PA : 3 10 25 49 13 ID : 3 29 38 29 1 :: RI : 0 0 17 50 33 IL : 5 14 41 37 3 :: SC : 0 5 33 57 5 IN : 3 12 51 32 2 :: SD : 0 8 26 53 13 IA : 5 18 35 37 5 :: TN : 0 3 22 61 14 KS : 0 2 22 70 6 :: TX : 4 20 45 26 5 KY : 0 11 34 44 11 :: UT : 7 33 50 10 0 LA : 0 7 37 52 4 :: VT : 42 0 42 16 0 ME : 0 0 36 64 0 :: VA : 0 2 16 72 10 MD : 1 2 20 59 18 :: WA : 0 15 40 40 5 MA : 0 40 6 54 0 :: WV : 0 3 23 62 12 MI : 8 32 34 23 3 :: WI : 11 21 39 28 1 MN : 7 23 38 31 1 :: WY : 2 19 42 37 0 MS : 3 12 41 39 5 :: : MO : 2 12 38 45 3 :: 48 Sts : 3 14 35 42 6 MT : 5 29 36 29 1 :: : NE : 0 3 17 70 10 :: Prev Wk: 3 12 36 42 7 NV : 8 10 35 46 1 :: Prev Yr: 4 16 36 40 4 NH : 0 9 29 62 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP - Very Poor P - Poor F - Fair G - Good Ex - Excellent