Released August 25, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Mark E. Miller (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 34 August 16 - 22, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. HIGHLIGHTS: After a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season during June through mid-August (only Tropical Storm Alex that dissipated harmlessly north of Puerto Rico), the tropics suddenly became very active with two named storms by Friday. By week's end, Hurricane Bonnie was in the Atlantic southeast of the Bahamas, while Tropical Storm Charley moved inland into southeastern Texas and dissipated, providing badly needed moisture to drought-stricken coastal regions but generating severe flooding further inland. Elsewhere, scattered beneficial showers fell across the southern portion of the South-Central States' drought area, improving topsoil moisture and pastures. Significant rain, some associated with Charley, also fell along the Gulf Coast and in parts of the Southeast, boosting soil moisture. Very dry weather persisted, however, across most of northern Texas and Oklahoma. Farther north, hot weather spurred summer crop development on the central Plains. Scattered showers in the Corn Belt aided filling crops, while warm weather pushed corn and soybeans toward maturity. In the northern Plains, showers and thunderstorms aided immature crops but slowed small grain harvesting. In California and the Northwest, mostly dry, cool weather, accompanied by a gradual warming trend, promoted fieldwork and crop development. Seasonal showers dampened the Southwest. A strong ridge of high pressure over the central Great Plains kept the region warm and dry as temperatures averaged up to 8F above normal and highs reached the triple- digits in Oklahoma and Kansas. However, few daily records were broken, except for Hill City, KS, which reached a record 102F on Tuesday. In contrast, both coasts observed sub-normal temperatures as persistent upper-air troughs brought a cool northwesterly flow into the regions. During the latter half of the week, an unseasonably strong area of high pressure slipped southeastward out of Canada into the Ohio Valley, dropping lows to record levels to over two dozen locations in the eastern half of the Nation. On Wednesday, readings plunged into the mid-30'sF to lower 40's F in the western Great Lakes region (34F at Houghton Lake, MI), between 45-50F in the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic on Thursday, and mid-to-upper 50'sF in the Southeast on Friday and Saturday. Cool weather (weekly departures of -3F to -6F) also covered the Far West, snapping 7 consecutive weeks of above-normal temperatures. In the tropics, Tropical Storm Bonnie formed late Thursday afternoon in the central Atlantic and strengthened to a hurricane by early Saturday morning while moving west- northwestward southeast of the Bahamas. In the western Gulf of Mexico, a depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Charley by late Friday afternoon (see page 3). As Charley tracked northwestward toward the southeastern Texas coast, sustained winds increased to 60 mph, with gusts near hurricane strength. As Charley made landfall near Port Aransas, TX Saturday morning, gusty winds and heavy showers and thunderstorms pelted portions of drought-plagued south-central Texas, generating some localized flash flooding. On Saturday, Victoria, TX measured a record 2.43 inches of rain, its largest 24-hour amount this year while raising its August total to 3.49 inches. Similarly, San Antonio received 2.96 inches on August 22, increasing its monthly rainfall to 5.75 inches. Earlier in the week, prior to the effects of Charley, August 17-20 rainfall at Del Rio, TX (2.01 inches) accounted for 41 percent of their year-to-date total, although January 1-August 20 rainfall in Del Rio still remained well below normal (6.09 inches). On Thursday, 0.75 inches of rain dampened Midland, TX, their highest total since 0.77 inches fell on December 20, 1997. Midland's rain also accounted for more than 25 percent of their year-to-date total. Unfortunately, as Charley slowly tracked westward by week's end, it eventually stalled near Del Rio on Sunday, dumping additional copious rains on portions of south-central Texas from Del Rio eastward to San Antonio, generating severe flooding (see page 3). Across the northern tier of States, the battlezone between cool Canadian air and warm, humid tropical air triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms in the northern Great Plains and upper Midwest. Late in the week, thunderstorms soaked Bismarck, ND with 4.63 inches, establishing a new August rainfall record of 9.19 inches. Farther east on Tuesday, as a strong cold front triggered showers and thunderstorms through the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, Rochester, NY recorded a record 1.38 inches of rain. Summer (June-August) rainfall reached 23.03 inches in Burlington, VT, breaking their record of 22.74 inches, set in 1892. Another Burlington record from 1892, January- August rainfall of 33.39 inches, was eclipsed earlier this month. Burlington's January 1 - August 22 rainfall totaled 39.23 inches. National Agricultural Summary August 17 - 23, 1998 Highlights: Harvest activities and fall seeding preparations were only temporarily delayed as a tropical storm delivered heavy rains along the western Gulf Coast. For some areas, the rains relieved dry conditions and provided moisture to germinate fall seedings of winter wheat. However, some inland areas of southern Texas experienced severe flooding. Rains helped maintain soil moisture levels and crop development in parts of the eastern Gulf Coast, along the Appalachians from the Southeast to the northern Atlantic Coast, and the central and western Corn Belt. Above-normal temperatures promoted rapid crop development across most of the mid-section of the country, including the Great Plains, the Corn Belt, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and parts of the Southeast. Below-normal temperatures along the Pacific Coast helped relieve stress caused by earlier excessive heat. Corn: Eighty-two percent of the Nation's corn crop has developed to the dough stage or beyond, more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average of 61 percent. Corn in the dent stage or beyond nearly doubled, to 39 percent, slightly less than 1 week ahead of normal. Development was aided by above-normal temperatures across the entire Corn Belt and Great Plains. Corn fields in many areas of the central and western Corn Belt also benefited from soaking rains, but some isolated green snap damage and yellowing due to nitrogen deficiency was evident. Some fields in the eastern Corn Belt and central Great Plains were stressed by excessive dryness. Soybeans: Soybeans setting pods advanced to 89 percent, 8 percentage points ahead of the previous week and the 5-year average. Nationally, 2 percent has started dropping leaves, mostly due to advanced progress in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Conditions declined slightly, as some parts of the Corn Belt contended with isolated outbreaks of sudden death syndrome, while other areas battled white mold. Cotton: Ninety-five percent of the crop has reached the boll setting stage, with 27 percent opening bolls. Virtually all cotton fields in the southern Great Plains and Southeast had progressed into the boll setting stage, but the pace lagged slightly behind normal due to late development in California. Bolls opening progress was slightly more than a week ahead of the average pace despite late progress in the Southwest. Many areas, from the Mississippi Delta through the Southeast, were battling insect and worm infestations, and boll rot. Rice: Heading progress advanced to 87 percent, behind last year and the 5-year average, but harvest was slightly ahead of normal, at 19 percent. Despite heavy rainfall in some areas, harvest progress continued at a steady pace in the western Gulf Coast, where two-thirds of the crop has been harvested. In northern parts of the Mississippi Delta, harvest was just beginning. Small grains: Oat harvest neared completion almost 2 weeks ahead of normal. Spring wheat and barley harvest reached 79 percent, 3 weeks ahead of the normal pace in many areas from the western Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest. Field preparations for seeding winter wheat continued in the southern Plains and began in the central Plains. Other crops: Sorghum development was nearly a week ahead of normal, with 93 percent heading and 46 percent turning color. Normally, 87 percent would be heading and 39 percent turning color by this date. Fields in the southern Plains improved as a result of additional rains. Dryland peanuts also benefited from rains in the southern Plains, but insect and disease pressures increased. Corn: Percent Dough, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 55 33 45 46 GA : 100 100 100 100 IL : 83 66 74 73 IN : 83 63 77 74 IA : 75 50 55 47 KS : 97 80 89 81 KY : 89 61 77 87 MI : 65 41 21 23 MN : 95 64 42 38 MO : 93 *84 95 80 NE : 86 71 81 68 NC : 90 84 94 94 OH : 75 61 65 69 PA : 70 50 54 56 SD : 80 61 57 46 TX : 97 95 96 95 WI : 69 63 42 44 : 17 Sts: 82 64 66 61 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Corn: Percent Dented, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 0 0 3 6 GA : 97 97 97 99 IL : 44 22 22 26 IN : 35 13 12 19 IA : 26 7 11 14 KS : 50 38 51 45 KY : 65 31 42 56 MI : 21 11 0 4 MN : 52 16 6 7 MO : 69 56 63 51 NE : 41 16 18 21 NC : 70 66 74 83 OH : 20 10 9 15 PA : 13 10 18 14 SD : 29 17 15 11 TX : 92 77 74 81 WI : 22 14 4 9 : 17 Sts: 39 20 20 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Setting Pods, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 75 68 58 61 AR : 70 54 59 64 GA : 71 70 71 72 IL : 86 78 95 84 IN : 87 74 90 83 IA : 99 95 99 92 KS : 97 88 90 78 KY : 62 47 46 54 LA : 96 91 91 91 MI : 98 87 98 81 MN : 99 97 96 87 MS : 96 94 86 81 MO : 77 66 83 69 NE : 97 92 97 88 NC : 51 37 50 52 OH : 96 86 93 86 SC : 45 32 45 52 SD : 92 82 95 83 TN : 69 53 54 60 : 19 Sts: 89 81 88 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Setting Bolls, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 99 98 91 95 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 100 100 100 CA : 50 40 100 100 GA : 100 99 100 100 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 100 100 100 100 NM : 100 100 100 98 NC : 94 90 88 95 OK : 98 94 91 95 SC : 96 89 89 97 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 99 97 96 93 : 14 Sts: 95 93 97 97 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 1 NA 0 0 AR : 1 NA 0 2 GA : 1 NA 0 2 IL : 0 NA 0 0 IN : 5 NA 0 0 IA : 0 NA 0 0 KS : 10 NA 6 3 KY : 1 NA 0 1 LA : 12 NA 7 6 MI : 0 NA 0 0 MN : 0 NA 0 0 MS : 19 NA 13 8 MO : 0 NA 0 0 NE : 0 NA 0 0 NC : 0 NA 0 0 OH : 0 NA 0 0 SC : 0 NA 0 0 SD : 8 NA 6 5 TN : 0 NA 0 0 : 19 Sts: 2 NA 1 1 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 22 12 8 10 AZ : 19 14 55 59 AR : 9 5 4 9 CA : 1 1 33 18 GA : 31 23 4 21 LA : 62 35 14 23 MS : 53 34 12 26 MO : 14 5 11 8 NM : 7 4 18 14 NC : 13 10 8 11 OK : 10 0 1 4 SC : 25 10 5 8 TN : 10 3 0 6 TX : 31 28 19 22 : 14 Sts: 27 20 15 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 96 97 97 CO : 90 88 84 70 IL : 79 60 89 83 KS : 95 84 95 85 LA : 100 100 99 99 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 97 92 99 87 NE : 97 91 93 86 NM : 35 23 67 58 OK : 86 77 75 77 SD : 78 61 81 76 TX : 96 87 88 93 : 12 Sts: 93 84 90 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 53 27 39 37 MN : 91 78 33 40 MT : 74 45 32 34 ND : 74 59 33 29 SD : 96 86 75 79 : 5 Sts : 79 61 39 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Coloring, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 63 51 52 67 CO : 8 1 1 6 IL : 16 11 14 16 KS : 30 21 30 19 LA : 99 90 85 85 MS : 92 86 85 83 MO : 57 41 47 40 NE : 20 5 11 15 NM : 11 2 1 6 OK : 43 11 12 24 SD : 33 19 15 16 TX : 75 70 67 74 : 12 Sts: 46 37 40 39 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 55 35 46 40 MN : 97 85 43 53 MT : 69 35 32 33 ND : 88 76 48 47 SD : 97 92 76 88 WA : 80 65 75 62 : 6 Sts : 79 61 47 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States harvested 84% of last year's barley acreage. Rice: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 90 82 87 90 CA : 60 30 99 86 LA : 97 97 93 93 MS : 92 89 82 89 TX : 99 98 95 96 : 5 Sts : 87 78 91 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Oats: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 100 100 100 100 MI : 97 92 90 75 MN : 97 91 65 73 NE : 100 99 100 99 ND : 82 73 44 38 OH : 100 96 95 97 PA : 84 81 84 82 SD : 98 90 88 91 WI : 99 91 75 71 : 9 Sts : 94 88 76 75 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States harvested 69% of last year's oat acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Aug 23,:Aug 16,:Aug 23,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 0 2 CA : 0 0 4 1 LA : 66 56 50 50 MS : 8 0 0 4 TX : 64 49 14 41 : 5 Sts : 19 15 11 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Corn: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 4 8 48 39 GA : 33 26 21 17 3 IL : 3 8 26 49 14 IN : 2 7 25 51 15 IA : 3 6 20 48 23 KS : 0 2 14 69 15 KY : 1 3 23 50 23 MI : 8 22 31 31 8 MN : 2 4 19 50 25 MO : 2 11 36 39 12 NE : 1 3 16 55 25 NC : 9 25 36 27 3 OH : 2 5 23 51 19 PA : 3 7 21 56 13 SD : 0 2 8 55 35 TX : 6 18 39 34 3 WI : 2 6 21 46 25 : 17 Sts : 3 7 22 48 20 : Prev Wk : 3 7 22 49 19 Prev Yr : 2 8 27 48 15 -------------------------------------- Cotton: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 13 29 48 3 AZ : 2 12 44 26 16 AR : 1 16 34 38 11 CA : 0 0 70 30 0 GA : 13 21 33 27 6 LA : 12 11 37 38 2 MS : 7 7 30 47 9 MO : 10 18 28 38 6 NM : 0 2 25 48 25 NC : 1 3 27 65 4 OK : 6 19 33 37 5 SC : 12 27 40 21 0 TN : 0 7 29 49 15 TX : 25 28 25 19 3 : 14 Sts : 14 18 32 31 5 : Prev Wk : 14 19 33 29 5 Prev Yr : 2 10 28 49 11 -------------------------------------- Soybeans: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 5 8 36 36 15 AR : 8 23 36 28 5 GA : 21 20 36 21 2 IL : 2 7 21 50 20 IN : 2 6 22 50 20 IA : 3 5 18 48 26 KS : 1 4 18 55 22 KY : 1 3 22 48 26 LA : 10 22 38 26 4 MI : 4 14 31 36 15 MN : 2 5 24 50 19 MS : 5 11 35 40 9 MO : 5 13 32 40 10 NE : 0 2 18 59 21 NC : 3 8 31 51 7 OH : 1 4 22 53 20 SC : 10 20 46 24 0 SD : 0 3 12 54 31 TN : 1 8 18 53 20 : 19 Sts : 3 8 24 46 19 : Prev Wk : 3 7 23 49 18 Prev Yr : 2 8 30 48 12 -------------------------------------- Sorghum: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 18 41 36 2 CO : 0 1 5 52 42 IL : 9 6 29 45 11 KS : 1 4 15 63 17 LA : 2 21 40 34 3 MS : 4 10 41 44 1 MO : 1 8 32 45 14 NE : 0 1 17 61 21 NM : 8 52 33 7 0 OK : 8 9 15 68 0 SD : 0 2 11 76 11 TX : 20 27 33 18 2 : 12 Sts : 8 13 23 45 11 : Prev Wk : 8 15 22 44 11 Prev Yr : 1 5 24 59 11 -------------------------------------- Peanut: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 4 9 58 26 3 FL : 0 0 14 82 4 GA : 4 11 39 34 12 NC : 0 0 20 70 10 OK : 4 16 41 38 1 SC : 13 26 56 5 0 TX : 7 13 33 39 8 VA : 0 10 30 54 6 : 8 Sts : 4 10 37 41 8 : Prev Wk : 6 14 34 38 8 Prev Yr : 0 7 30 50 13 -------------------------------------- Rice: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 9 29 48 13 CA : 0 0 15 85 0 LA : 0 3 35 54 8 MS : 1 5 33 52 9 TX : 0 3 39 48 10 : 5 Sts : 1 5 29 56 9 : Prev Wk : 1 4 26 59 10 Prev Yr : 0 2 31 53 14 -------------------------------------- Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 1 7 52 38 2 :: NJ : 0 50 50 0 0 AZ : 0 15 34 50 1 :: NM : 6 27 37 28 2 AR : 11 25 41 22 1 :: NY : 0 0 39 59 2 CA : 0 0 30 70 0 :: NC : 8 31 34 26 1 CO : 0 6 18 50 26 :: ND : 6 19 48 26 1 CT : 0 46 36 18 0 :: OH : 5 13 30 43 9 DE : 0 27 32 41 0 :: OK : 23 24 34 19 0 FL : 0 0 30 70 0 :: OR : 1 1 15 68 15 GA : 5 20 39 32 4 :: PA : 11 37 26 26 0 ID : 0 10 31 41 18 :: RI : 0 0 85 8 7 IL : 1 6 26 51 16 :: SC : 8 22 31 38 1 IN : 1 6 31 49 13 :: SD : 1 4 21 58 16 IA : 3 11 31 41 14 :: TN : 0 4 23 58 15 KS : 1 5 32 55 7 :: TX : 25 34 32 9 0 KY : 2 5 30 50 13 :: UT : 0 13 21 62 4 LA : 19 27 29 24 1 :: VT : 0 0 57 19 24 ME : 4 40 41 15 0 :: VA : 12 35 28 25 0 MD : 8 31 36 22 3 :: WA : 8 25 47 15 5 MA : 0 0 23 77 0 :: WV : 0 8 40 47 5 MI : 35 25 25 14 1 :: WI : 4 9 36 42 9 MN : 9 19 29 38 5 :: WY : 1 8 29 58 4 MS : 2 12 40 39 7 :: : MO : 1 5 33 53 8 :: 48 Sts : 7 15 32 40 6 MT : 5 16 62 16 1 :: : NE : 1 7 21 62 9 :: Prev Wk: 9 15 29 39 8 NV : 0 0 40 60 0 :: Prev Yr: 4 14 32 42 8 NH : 0 6 27 67 0 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1997 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 p.m. ET on September 1, 1998. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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