Released October 27, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather & Crop Bulletin" call Mark E. Miller at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 85, No. 43 October 18 - 24, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain continued across southeastern Texas early in the week, causing extensive lowland flooding. River flooding persisted in the region through week's end as crests edged downstream toward the Gulf of Mexico. At midweek, rain developed across western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, slowing cotton harvesting but providing much-needed moisture for winter wheat development. Scattered mid- to late-week showers also dampened cotton areas of southern Arizona and California's San Joaquin Valley. Heavier rain (1 to 2 inches) soaked California's Sacramento Valley on Saturday, halting fieldwork. Mostly dry weather prevailed in the Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley, and East, promoting summer-crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Weekly temperatures ranged from 7 degrees F below normal in parts of Texas to as much as 5 degrees F above normal across the Nation's northern tier. A late-week cool snap in the East ended the growing season approximately on schedule or slightly later than normal in much of the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley, and resulted in widespread frost as far south as the central portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Early in the week, heavy rain persisted in southeastern Texas. On Sunday, daily- rainfall records were established in Houston (4.04 inches) and San Antonio (3.19 inches). Scattered showers lingered through Wednesday, boosting storm-total (October 17-21) rainfall to 15.66 inches in San Antonio and 8.97 inches in Austin. San Antonio's October rainfall (18.06 inches) reached an all-time monthly record total. Austin's monthly total rose to 12.33 inches, their greatest October rainfall since 1925. On the San Bernard River near Boling, TX, an estimated crest near 24.7 feet above flood stage occurred on Wednesday, slightly above the record set on June 28, 1960. The Colorado River at Wharton, TX, crested on Friday at about 9.8 feet above flood stage, 3.5 feet above the December 1991 crest, but more than 2 inches below the record set on July 3, 1940. Along the Guadalupe River, peak stages at Cuero and Victoria were calculated to be two to three times greater than the 100-year peak discharge. The river crested approximately 30 feet above flood stage in Cuero. By midweek, the focus of significant rainfall shifted into western Texas and the Four Corners region. Some of the rain continued to be associated with tropical activity, including remnant moisture from the eastern Pacific Hurricane Madeline. Midland, TX received 0.70 inches on October 20-21, boosting their year-to-date rainfall to 4.00 inches (30 percent of normal). Localized totals in excess of 1 inch were observed from northern Arizona to western Texas. At week's end, a winter-like storm arrived in California. On Saturday, daily-record rains were reported in Redding (2.16 inches), Red Bluff (2.09 inches), Stockton (1.01 inches), and Bakersfield (0.24 inches). By Sunday morning, October 25, Austin, NV reported a snow depth of 3 inches. From October 18-22, warm weather continued in the Southeast and overspread the Pacific Northwest, resulting in more than two dozen daily-record highs. On Monday, Florence, SC recorded a high of 88 degrees F. A day later, Tallahassee, FL logged 89 degrees F, while Newport, OR posted their first of two daily records (75 and 80 degrees F). Warm air advanced onto the Plains toward week's end, producing a daily-record high (76 degrees F on Friday) in Bismarck, ND. Farther east, however, sharply cooler air arrived in the East. On Friday, daily-record lows in North Carolina included 29 degrees F in Raleigh-Durham and 31 degrees F in Charlotte. In Indiana, Indianapolis' growing season ended at 212 days (March 25 to October 22), their longest since 1941. A day later, lows dipped to daily- record levels in Bristol, TN (28 degrees F) and Meridian, MS (34 degrees F). National Agricultural Summary October 19 - 25, 1998 Highlights: Most of the Nation experienced dry weather, ideal for harvesting crops and seeding winter wheat. In southeastern Texas, heavy early-week rains caused flooding and stalled fieldwork for several days. Seasonable temperatures aided early growth of fall-seeded crops in the Great Plains and eastern Corn Belt. Corn: The Nation's corn harvest advanced 15 percentage points, to 72 percent complete and remained more than 1 week ahead of the 53 percent normal pace. Farmers in the Corn Belt and Great Plains made excellent progress as dry weather provided nearly ideal harvest conditions. However, shortages of storage space forced some farmers to wait until space became available. In the southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast, harvest was virtually finished. In the southern Corn Belt, along the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, activity decreased as the harvest began to wind down. Soybeans: Eighty-two percent of the Nation's soybeans have been harvested, compared with 77 percent normally harvested by this date. Farmers in the southern Corn Belt and northern Mississippi Delta set the quickest pace, while the rest of the Corn Belt and northern Plains made steady progress. The harvest gained momentum in the Southeast, as farmers increasingly focused their attention on the soybean crop. In the lower Mississippi Valley and parts of the northern and western Corn Belt, harvest activity declined, as farmers finished combining soybeans. Cotton: The Nation's cotton harvest progressed to 61 percent complete, up from 51 percent the previous week. Normally, 50 percent of the crop would be harvested by this date. Growers in the northern Mississippi Delta, made rapid progress. Farther south in the Delta, the pace was slower, as the harvest neared completion. The pace in the southern Plains was also slow, as rain stalled progress in Texas. In the Southwest, progress remained well behind normal, despite excellent progress in Arizona. The harvest season was just beginning in California, due to the late- maturing crop. Winter Wheat: Planting progressed to 84 percent, slightly behind the 87 percent average. The pace slowed as planting neared completion in the Great Plains from Nebraska to the Dakotas and westward through the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. In the southern and eastern Corn Belt, farmers made rapid progress, as dry weather prevailed. Planting steadily advanced in the southern Plains and began to gain momentum in the Southeast. Progress was well behind normal in western Missouri and Oklahoma, and slightly behind normal in Kansas. Sixty-seven percent has emerged, also slightly behind normal for this date. The northeastern Corn Belt, northern Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest were ahead of normal, while most of the central and southern Great Plains, southern Corn Belt, and Mississippi Delta lagged behind normal. Other crops: The rice harvest progressed to 97 percent complete, slightly ahead of the normal pace. Growers in the Mississippi Delta harvested most of their remaining paddies. In California, the pace remained brisk, but continued to lag behind normal. Sorghum growers advanced their harvest to 75 percent, a few days ahead of the normal 67 percent pace. Dry conditions aided progress in the central Great Plains and southern Corn Belt. Dry weather also aided the peanut harvest, as progress jumped slightly ahead of the normal pace, to 72 percent complete. Growers made rapid progress in the southeast, but remained well behind normal in Alabama and Georgia, but were far ahead of the 5-year average in Florida. In the southern Great Plains, progress remained slightly ahead of normal, despite rain that delayed harvest in parts of Texas. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 64 50 64 49 GA : 99 98 98 97 IL : 73 58 76 63 IN : 68 45 46 46 IA : 70 52 72 50 KS : 92 82 89 81 KY : 95 88 77 80 MI : 59 51 9 24 MN : 81 59 75 48 MO : 80 69 80 67 NE : 75 63 60 48 NC : 100 100 90 91 OH : 52 36 25 35 PA : 53 42 29 36 SD : 55 42 54 37 TX : 98 95 97 97 WI : 58 40 26 31 : 17 Sts: 72 57 63 53 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 49 35 45 37 AR : 62 44 50 45 GA : 22 15 19 16 IL : 85 71 96 87 IN : 89 74 92 84 IA : 93 87 97 93 KS : 67 57 79 73 KY : 77 55 48 41 LA : 93 87 94 77 MI : 76 60 77 71 MN : 95 90 99 91 MS : 91 82 75 65 MO : 68 50 73 61 NE : 87 78 89 91 NC : 20 15 13 12 OH : 92 83 90 83 SC : 11 5 9 7 SD : 86 75 92 83 TN : 55 42 37 31 : 19 Sts: 82 71 84 77 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 42 16 40 39 CA : 2 1 5 8 CO : 100 98 100 99 GA : 10 4 6 9 ID : 94 87 93 89 IL : 84 57 92 80 IN : 82 62 90 82 KS : 94 80 95 96 MI : 88 81 95 92 MO : 46 34 73 63 MT : 98 89 98 92 NE : 99 98 100 100 NC : 30 25 26 30 OH : 96 86 93 90 OK : 77 68 86 91 OR : 83 70 88 80 SD : 100 98 100 100 TX : 76 69 81 82 WA : 98 91 99 96 : 19 Sts: 84 75 88 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 69 55 44 57 AZ : 44 24 54 54 AR : 79 61 59 67 CA : 6 2 57 46 GA : 46 38 41 47 LA : 92 81 95 85 MS : 94 87 76 75 MO : 57 44 61 68 NM : 18 10 14 23 NC : 70 55 26 43 OK : 58 55 14 24 SC : 65 55 29 45 TN : 84 70 56 63 TX : 60 53 37 40 : 14 Sts: 61 51 47 50 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 17 5 22 21 CA : 0 0 0 2 CO : 87 87 93 93 GA : 6 2 2 5 ID : 64 50 64 58 IL : 52 20 64 51 IN : 54 31 60 54 KS : 79 49 83 81 MI : 78 60 73 68 MO : 28 13 48 39 MT : 80 64 77 66 NE : 96 91 98 98 NC : 10 5 0 10 OH : 76 53 51 56 OK : 53 33 63 66 OR : 63 51 61 50 SD : 95 88 96 92 TX : 57 47 61 66 WA : 90 81 93 82 : 19 Sts: 67 50 71 70 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 98 96 CO : 42 23 9 35 IL : 56 34 75 53 KS : 79 62 70 64 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 76 69 72 66 NE : 76 60 75 56 NM : 14 12 26 22 OK : 55 29 40 33 SD : 74 62 67 57 TX : 77 73 75 83 : 12 Sts: 75 63 69 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 99 97 95 96 CA : 85 70 99 89 LA : 100 100 99 99 MS : 100 98 99 97 TX : 100 100 98 100 : 5 Sts : 97 93 97 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 2 40 49 9 CA : 0 0 0 50 50 CO : 1 3 17 51 28 GA : 0 1 39 52 8 ID : 0 0 7 71 22 IL : 0 3 24 66 7 IN : 0 2 31 57 10 KS : 1 3 26 61 9 MI : 0 3 29 55 13 MO : 0 5 43 49 3 MT : 0 7 49 43 1 NE : 1 1 26 63 9 NC : 0 5 18 51 26 OH : 0 0 19 62 19 OK : 0 4 25 66 5 OR : 0 0 13 87 0 SD : 0 0 8 75 17 TX : 7 35 34 23 1 WA : 5 14 50 15 16 : 19 Sts : 2 8 27 53 10 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 1 4 23 62 10 -------------------------------------- Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Oct 25,:Oct 18,:Oct 25,: 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 78 50 95 87 FL : 89 67 98 37 GA : 79 64 93 89 NC : 65 60 62 66 OK : 59 50 59 54 SC : 73 55 75 73 TX : 52 43 49 40 VA : 90 82 93 91 : 8 Sts : 72 57 79 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 12 20 53 13 2 :: NJ : 0 0 100 0 0 AZ : 2 8 22 54 14 :: NM : 8 31 37 22 2 AR : 7 29 41 20 3 :: NY : 0 2 26 65 7 CA : 0 20 40 40 0 :: NC : 22 30 26 21 1 CO : 3 14 33 44 6 :: ND : 5 14 39 39 3 CT : 0 0 0 100 0 :: OH : 3 12 38 40 7 DE : 0 1 33 66 0 :: OK : 12 25 32 31 0 FL : 0 0 35 55 10 :: OR : 1 6 32 60 1 GA : 10 17 42 27 4 :: PA : 10 17 42 22 9 ID : 0 12 32 43 13 :: RI : 0 0 13 65 22 IL : 4 8 33 47 8 :: SC : 3 12 42 41 2 IN : 5 21 41 31 2 :: SD : 0 4 20 54 22 IA : 3 12 32 42 11 :: TN : 11 29 35 23 2 KS : 1 9 39 44 7 :: TX : 14 26 32 22 6 KY : 10 28 39 20 3 :: UT : 0 15 20 51 14 LA : 4 18 43 32 3 :: VT : 0 22 28 50 0 ME : 3 21 60 16 0 :: VA : 26 50 19 5 0 MD : 7 31 25 31 6 :: WA : 0 25 55 20 0 MA : 0 38 11 46 5 :: WV : 15 15 36 31 3 MI : 21 17 34 24 4 :: WI : 1 13 33 43 10 MN : 8 17 33 37 5 :: WY : 1 6 20 65 8 MS : 9 24 41 23 3 :: : MO : 0 4 27 59 10 :: 48 Sts : 6 17 34 37 6 MT : 3 17 55 24 1 :: : NE : 4 10 28 55 3 :: Prev Wk: 6 17 34 38 5 NV : 0 0 6 78 16 :: Prev Yr: 4 15 35 41 5 NH : 0 0 18 74 8 :: : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 & Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 p.m. ET on November 3, 1998. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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 of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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