Released November 10, 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. 44 October 25 - 31, 1998 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain (4 to 6 inches, with locally higher totals) soaked areas from northern Texas to east-central Kansas, eliminating topsoil dryness and providing moisture for winter wheat establishment. Lowland flooding ensued, however, resulting in standing water and wash-outs in wheat fields near streams and rivers. The rain also halted the High Plains cotton harvest and threatened the quality of the unharvested crop. Significant rains (mostly greater than 1 inch) also fell across the Great Basin, Four Corners region, western Corn Belt, northern New England, and elsewhere in the central and southern Plains, slowing fieldwork. In contrast, mostly dry weather prevailed in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern States, spurring summer-crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Mostly dry weather also favored fieldwork in California. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 3 degrees F below normal in California's Central Valley, but ranged from 3 to 11 degrees F above normal throughout the Plains and Midwest. Readings averaged up to 7 degrees F above normal in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern States. During the early- to midweek period, a low-pressure system traversed areas from the Southwest to the upper Midwest, producing widespread rain. On Sunday, Flagstaff, AZ netted a daily-record rainfall of 1.48 inches. Two days later, daily records were established in Albuquerque, NM (0.62 inches) and Peoria, IL (1.47 inches). In the central Rockies, the storm deposited 6 inches of snow in Leadville, CO. Across the northern Plains, the storm capped a record-wet October in several locations, including Glasgow, MT (3.05 inches), Rapid City, SD (5.60 inches), and Aberdeen, SD (7.29 inches). Very warm weather prevailed in many areas east of the storm's center. On October 25, Providence, RI (75 degrees F) notched a daily-record high. Records on Tuesday included 87 degrees F in Pinson, AL and 73 degrees F in Alpena, MI. Late in the week, the storm's energy translated to a low-pressure system east of Maine, raking northern New England with rain and high winds. On Friday, wind gusts in Maine reached 52 mph in Greenville and 56 mph on Monhegan Island. A second, stronger storm emerged from the Southwest toward week's end, sparking additional heavy rain. October 31 rainfall totaled 5.79 inches in Wichita, KS, propelling the city to its wettest October (9.42 inches) on record. Storm-total rainfall (through 7:00 a.m. CST on Sunday) in Oklahoma included 8.29 inches in Cherokee and 6.89 inches in Woodward. In Texas, the storm boosted Amarillo's monthly rainfall to 6.48 inches (their highest October total since 1941), more than half of which fell on October 30-31. Farther north, much cooler air overspread the Northwest. On Friday, lows dipped to 20 degrees F in Spokane, WA and 7 degrees F in Burns, OR. In contrast, very warm conditions continued across the Southeast. On Friday, daily-record highs included 85 degrees F in Huntsville, AL and 86 degrees F in Florence, SC. A day later, Tallahassee, FL recorded 88 degrees F. In Alaska, weekly temperatures ranged from 7 to 13 degrees F above normal in northern and western areas. Nevertheless, Barrow noted their first sub-zero reading of the season (-1 degree F on October 27) and first below-normal minimum temperature since August 17. In the south, Kodiak wrapped up another wet month (13.96 inches, or 194 percent of normal), raising their year-to-date rainfall to 93.12 inches (170 percent). Meanwhile, Honolulu, HI concluded another dry month (0.13 inches, or 6 percent of normal), leaving their year- to-date total at 2.52 inches (17 percent). We 1 (11-98) National Agricultural Summary November 2 - 8, 1998 Highlights: A large mass of cold air brought below-normal temperatures to most of the Nation, and the first major snowstorm followed late in the week. Wheat fields in the northern Rocky Mountains and High Plains were blanketed by at least a few inches of snow. The cold weather did not hinder harvest efforts in the northern Corn Belt or Southeast, but rains delayed progress in parts of the southern Corn Belt and Great Plains. The rains aided germination and growth of winter wheat in the central and southern Plains, but also caused some isolated flooding. Harvest activities continued in California until late-week rains halted progress in the northern third of the State. Winter Wheat: Planting progressed to 93 percent complete, slightly behind the 94 percent average for this date. Wheat had emerged on 83 percent of the acreage, 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Farmers in the northern Plains were finished planting, while growers in the central Plains, Pacific Northwest, and Corn Belt were nearly finished. Planting was active in Missouri, but lagged behind normal due to wet weather in the western parts of the State. Dry weather aided planting efforts in Arkansas, but in the Southeast, planting was delayed due to excessively dry soils. Progress was slow in California, but remained more than 1 week ahead of normal. Virtually all of the winter wheat was emerged in the northern Plains. In the central and southern Plains, emergence lagged slightly behind normal. In the Southeast, emergence was hindered by dry soils. Late-week snow in the northern Rocky Mountains provided some insolation from cold weather. Corn: The Nation's corn harvest advanced 7 percentage points, to 90 percent complete, and remained more than 1 week ahead of the 82 percent normal pace. Dry weather aided harvest efforts in the eastern and northern Corn Belt, where combining remained fairly brisk. In the western and southern Corn Belt, progress was considerably slower, as rain delayed up harvest of the remaining fields. Soybeans: The harvest pace continued to decline, progressing just 5 percentage points, to 94 percent complete. Progress was slow in the Corn Belt, where few fields remained to be harvested. Dry conditions aided harvest efforts in the Mississippi Delta and Southeast. Harvest approached completion in the Delta States and neared the halfway point in the Southeast. Cotton: The Nation's cotton harvest steadily progressed to 75 percent complete, up from 68 percent the previous week. Normally, 69 percent of the crop would be harvested by this date. California cotton growers harvested 20 percent of their cotton, more than doubling the total prior to last week. Despite the rapid progress, harvest remained well behind the 5-year average. Dry weather aided progress in the Southeast and the Bootheel of Missouri. Progress was nearly halted in the southern Plains, but remained far ahead of the 5-year average in Oklahoma. Other crops: Sorghum harvested advanced to 88 percent complete, slightly ahead of the 86 percent average. Dry weather aided rapid progress in the southern and central High Plains, while rain halted combining in the southern Corn Belt. Eighty-eight percent of the peanuts were harvested, ahead of the normal pace of 84 percent. Florida peanut producers were nearly finished harvesting, far ahead of the normal progress of 39 percent. Growers in Alabama and Georgia also neared completion, but were slightly behind their normal pace. Progress fell behind normal in Oklahoma, as rain hindered harvest operations. The harvest remained ahead of the 5-year average in Texas, despite scattered rains. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 78 73 80 79 GA : 100 100 100 99 IL : 92 82 92 89 IN : 93 82 73 76 IA : 92 86 90 85 KS : 97 96 94 94 KY : 97 96 89 92 MI : 83 71 29 51 MN : 96 90 95 85 MO : 87 85 90 85 NE : 86 83 79 81 NC : 100 100 96 98 OH : 85 71 55 66 PA : 70 60 52 58 SD : 78 66 90 75 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 86 73 56 65 : 17 Sts: 90 83 82 82 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 85 68 67 60 AR : 89 78 73 72 GA : 53 34 30 36 IL : 96 92 99 97 IN : 98 94 98 96 IA : 99 97 99 99 KS : 88 86 91 91 KY : 94 85 69 70 LA : 100 97 98 92 MI : 98 93 90 94 MN : 98 97 99 98 MS : 98 95 88 83 MO : 87 81 86 85 NE : 95 92 94 99 NC : 40 25 20 22 OH : 99 97 97 95 SC : 40 22 15 20 SD : 95 92 100 97 TN : 90 78 61 58 : 19 Sts: 94 89 91 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 78 63 70 68 CA : 30 25 14 21 CO : 100 100 100 100 GA : 16 10 12 18 ID : 98 96 99 98 IL : 96 94 99 95 IN : 97 92 98 97 KS : 97 96 98 99 MI : 99 97 99 99 MO : 76 64 92 87 MT : 100 99 100 98 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 55 45 52 51 OH : 100 99 99 98 OK : 92 89 96 97 OR : 92 87 95 92 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 88 81 91 90 WA : 100 100 100 98 : 19 Sts: 93 90 94 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 91 79 66 75 AZ : 63 53 73 74 AR : 95 91 83 87 CA : 35 15 84 78 GA : 65 58 56 67 LA : 99 97 98 96 MS : 99 98 92 91 MO : 87 70 81 86 NM : 35 23 52 53 NC : 85 75 48 64 OK : 76 74 39 42 SC : 82 77 53 64 TN : 95 92 81 83 TX : 71 66 60 56 : 14 Sts: 75 68 68 69 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 50 35 54 50 CA : 8 5 5 8 CO : 97 90 98 98 GA : 8 6 8 11 ID : 86 73 84 81 IL : 84 71 92 84 IN : 89 71 85 85 KS : 90 84 91 94 MI : 92 83 97 90 MO : 55 42 75 68 MT : 88 82 87 83 NE : 100 99 100 100 NC : 35 20 28 32 OH : 98 90 86 86 OK : 77 69 81 84 OR : 79 69 74 74 SD : 100 98 100 98 TX : 74 64 79 79 WA : 99 98 99 88 : 19 Sts: 83 75 85 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 99 99 CO : 61 51 16 61 IL : 86 86 91 83 KS : 94 90 79 87 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 88 85 88 85 NE : 90 86 84 88 NM : 46 34 57 49 OK : 83 66 57 57 SD : 87 82 89 87 TX : 85 81 87 91 : 12 Sts: 88 83 81 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1993- State:Nov 8, :Nov 1, :Nov 8, : 1997 : 1998 : 1998 : 1997 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 92 85 99 97 FL : 97 94 100 39 GA : 94 90 99 98 NC : 90 85 82 88 OK : 78 70 90 79 SC : 96 87 93 90 TX : 71 62 75 63 VA : 99 98 99 99 : 8 Sts : 88 82 92 84 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 2 2 39 50 7 CA : 0 0 0 50 50 CO : 0 2 14 56 28 GA : 1 12 37 47 3 ID : 0 0 8 73 19 IL : 0 3 18 67 12 IN : 0 1 26 57 16 KS : 1 6 25 56 12 MI : 0 3 33 51 13 MO : 0 7 32 59 2 MT : 1 9 50 39 1 NE : 0 3 18 64 15 NC : 0 4 48 37 11 OH : 0 2 18 60 20 OK : 0 4 19 71 6 OR : 0 3 23 74 0 SD : 0 0 12 65 23 TX : 2 15 40 38 5 WA : 3 16 46 31 4 : 19 Sts : 1 6 27 55 11 : Prev Wk : 2 8 25 55 10 Prev Yr : 0 4 21 63 12 -------------------------------------- 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 after 12 p.m. ET on November 17, 1998. 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