Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 13, 1999, 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 at (202) 720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 86, No. 15 April 4 - 10, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: An already cool pattern intensified across the West, further slowing crop development. Weekly temperatures averaged 5 to 13 degrees F below normal in California, where locally heavy precipitation disrupted fieldwork. Snow showers continued in the Intermountain West as far south as Arizona, providing limited but much-needed moisture. In contrast, warm weather prevailed from the eastern Plains to the East Coast, promoting the development of winter wheat and spring-sown crops. Temperatures ranged from 6 to 14 degrees F above normal in the Southeast, resulting in rapid planting progress and crop growth. However, dry weather continued across Florida and southern Georgia, where mostly dry weather since late January and recent heat (high temperatures near 90 degrees F) have depleted topsoil moisture and increased the risk of wildfires. Farther north, a trio of fast-moving storm systems traversed the central Plains and the Corn Belt, halting fieldwork but providing beneficial pre-planting moisture. Weekly rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches across much of the western and northern Corn Belt. The second of the three storms sparked severe weather across the Midwest on April 8-9, resulting in localized wind damage and more than five dozen tornadoes. The week's temperature tally included more than 40 daily-record highs in the East and at least six dozen daily-record lows in the West. In California, sub-freezing temperatures were reported in the Sacramento Valley, while frost occurred in the San Joaquin Valley. On Friday, lows dipped to 28 degrees F in Redding and 31 degrees F in Sacramento. Bakersfield opened the week with a daily-record low (35 degrees F on April 4), then posted consecutive records (34 and 33 degrees F) on April 9-10. On Wednesday, highs remained below 50 degrees F as far south as Fresno (49 degrees F). In addition, a series of three storms maintained wet conditions across much of the State. April 1-11 rainfall totaled 1.34 inches (268 percent of normal) in Merced and 1.36 inches (412 percent) in Hanford. By Monday, April 12, the snow depth on Mt. Wilson, We 1 (4-99) near Los Angeles, reached 17 inches. More than half of the week's daily-record lows were reported on April 10, when minima in southern California included 14 degrees F in Big Bear Lake, 26 degrees F in Lancaster, and 33 degrees F in Thermal. Elsewhere in the West, McCall, ID noted -2 degrees F, Park City, UT registered 6 degrees F, and Ely, NV notched 9 degrees F. Heavy mountain snow also fell elsewhere in the West. A daily-record total of 13.8 inches blanketed Flagstaff, AZ on Sunday, helping to boost their month-to-date snowfall to 33.3 inches, and accounting for more than half of their season-to-date sum of 63.0 inches. In Utah's Wasatch Range, April 7-10 snowfall included 35 inches at Alta. High winds accompanied the storms' passages across the Intermountain West and onto the Plains. In the Colorado Rockies, winds at Carter Lake, in southeastern Larimer County, gusted to 103 mph on Thursday and 95 mph on Saturday. On Thursday, gusts in northwestern Kansas were clocked to at least 69 mph in Colby and 67 mph in Goodland. On Friday in Florida, Orlando tallied their first of four consecutive daily-record highs (91, 93, 92, and 93 degrees F). Highs also reached or exceeded 90 degrees F in parts of western and southern Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The week opened with a high of 93 degrees F in Florence, SC and closed with a high of 90 degrees F in Montgomery, AL. On Wednesday, highs topped 80 degrees F as far north as southern Iowa, where Burlington registered 84 degrees F. Across the northern and western Corn Belt, however, periodic heavy rainfall reversed a drying trend that developed during March. Precipitation during the first 11 days of April reached 4.10 inches (446 percent of normal) in Eau Claire, WI and 4.36 inches (479 percent) in Rochester, MN. After a record-dry March (0.15 inch), 1.62 inches dampened Green Bay, WI from April 1-11. Severe thunderstorms ripped across the Midwest on April 8-9, resulting in nine fatalities. Meanwhile, only scattered showers and thunderstorms dotted the South. Nevertheless, Shreveport, LA was inundated by a daily-record total (5.15 inches) on April 4. In Tampa, FL, however, no rain fell during the first 11 days of April, following their fourth-driest October-March period on record. Only 5.82 inches fell in Tampa during the 6-month period, compared to a record-low 2.56 inches in 1906-07. Warmer air overspread western Alaska, where weekly temperature departures reached +6 degrees F. Cool conditions persisted across southern and eastern areas, however, producing temperatures 3 to 6 degrees F below normal. Annette Island logged a daily-record low (29 degrees F) on Thursday. National Agricultural Summary April 5 - 11, 1999 Highlights: Strong thunderstorms delivered soaking rains, spawned several tornadoes, and halted fieldwork as they passed through the western half of the Corn Belt at midweek. Adjacent areas of the Great Plains, eastern Corn Belt, and Great Lakes received lighter showers that moistened soils and temporarily delayed spring tillage. Warm weather in the southern Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast promoted rapid development of winter wheat and early row crops. Wet soils at the beginning of the week and additional showers during the week limited fieldwork and planting in the lower Mississippi Valley. The Southeast, Atlantic Coastal Plains, and most of the Great Plains were dry, promoting tillage and fertilizing operations, but discouraging planting. Cold weather hindered crop development and delayed planting along the Pacific Coast, especially in California. A combination of heat and dry weather triggered wildfires in Florida. Winter Wheat: Five percent of the winter wheat crop was headed, compared with 3 percent at this time last year and the 5-year average. Temperatures averaging well above normal accelerated development in the southern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Development was hindered by persistent cold weather in the Pacific Northwest and California. Cold weather also halted growth in the northern Great Plains. In the central Great Plains, showers and mild temperatures aided development, while wind damage, insect populations, and disease problems were minor. Corn: Four percent of the Nation's corn was planted, up slightly from the previous week and ahead of the normal 3 percent rate. Dry weather aided progress in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, where planting was ahead of last year and the average. Planting remained slightly ahead of normal in the southern Great Plains, but progress was slow in the Texas High Plains due to dry soils. The planting season was just beginning in the Corn Belt, with progress mostly limited to southern areas, along the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, while muddy fields prevented planting elsewhere. In the central Great Plains, the beginning of the planting season was aided by dry weather. Cotton: Five percent of the Nation's cotton acreage was planted, behind last year and the normal for this date. Rain and muddy fields prevented planting in most areas of the Mississippi Delta. Dry soils discouraged planting in the Southeast and Atlantic Coast Plains, while cold soils hindered planting in the Southwest. Planting was nearly complete along the western Gulf Coast and continued in the southern Great Plains. Emergence was slow due to low overnight temperatures. Small grains: Oat planting, at 24 percent, was well ahead of last year and the average for this date. Dry weather aided progress in the Corn Belt before midweek storms halted planting in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Spring wheat was 7 percent planted, ahead of last year's 4 percent and the average of 2 percent. Barley planting advanced to 10 percent, slightly ahead of last year and the average. Rain limited barley and spring wheat planting in the northern Great Plains, but progress remained ahead of normal. In the northern Rocky Mountains and northern High Plains, dry weather aided progress. Other crops: Rice planting advanced to 16 percent, 3 percentage points behind the normal pace, despite rapid progress in the western Gulf Coast rice-producing area. Inland areas of the Mississippi Delta progressed little and were well behind normal due to wet soils from recent rains. Sorghum planting was 14 percent complete, compared with 17 percent last year and the 5-year average. Dry soils discouraged planting in the southern High Plains and wet soils hindered progress in the lower Mississippi Valley. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 2 0 1 1 GA : 83 74 74 78 IL : 2 1 0 1 IN : 2 0 0 0 IA : 0 0 0 0 KS : 3 1 1 3 KY : 8 1 13 9 MI : 0 0 0 0 MN : 0 0 0 0 MO : 12 4 6 10 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 25 12 23 25 OH : 4 0 1 1 PA : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 53 51 48 51 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 17 Sts: 4 3 3 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 10 1 17 13 CA : 40 30 39 49 CO : 0 0 0 0 GA : 46 22 18 37 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 0 0 0 0 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 18 15 8 8 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 7 1 3 3 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 16 7 9 11 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 19 Sts: 5 2 3 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 1 4 5 AZ : 15 10 18 35 AR : 0 0 0 0 CA : 2 2 6 18 GA : 3 1 4 3 LA : 0 0 0 1 MS : 1 0 1 1 MO : 0 0 0 0 NM : 2 0 5 7 NC : 0 0 4 1 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 3 0 0 1 TN : 0 0 0 0 TX : 10 9 12 11 : 14 Sts: 5 4 7 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 30 20 29 40 MN : 3 0 0 0 MT : 10 2 4 2 ND : 1 0 0 0 SD : 22 17 14 4 : 5 Sts : 7 3 4 2 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 5 3 11 13 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 5 1 4 8 MS : 8 0 8 17 MO : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 0 0 0 2 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 38 35 44 45 : 12 Sts: 14 13 17 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 21 *15 19 26 MN : 0 0 0 0 MT : 11 5 6 4 ND : 0 0 0 0 SD : 13 10 20 5 WA : 35 30 43 35 : 6 Sts : 10 7 9 9 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 74 57 4 34 MI : 37 *15 3 3 MN : 5 0 1 2 NE : 55 30 19 38 ND : 1 0 0 0 OH : 49 23 43 28 PA : 29 9 29 20 SD : 25 12 11 4 WI : 18 14 4 5 : 9 Sts : 24 14 8 10 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 11,:Apr 4, :Apr 11,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 0 8 9 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 57 46 57 47 MS : 4 3 23 22 TX : 46 30 55 41 : 5 Sts : 16 12 22 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 1 14 62 23 CA : 0 0 10 85 5 CO : 1 5 19 61 14 GA : 1 7 34 51 7 ID : 0 1 8 70 21 IL : 0 2 18 67 13 IN : 0 2 18 64 16 KS : 1 3 21 53 22 MI : 0 1 14 58 27 MO : 1 3 34 52 10 MT : 1 9 33 50 7 NE : 1 1 21 68 9 NC : 0 1 28 63 8 OH : 0 1 11 62 26 OK : 0 0 10 82 8 OR : 0 14 34 50 2 SD : 0 2 16 54 28 TX : 4 9 35 46 6 WA : 4 14 46 35 1 : 19 Sts : 1 4 22 59 14 : Prev Wk : 1 5 26 55 13 Prev Yr : 0 3 19 60 18 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1998 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" will be released at 12 p.m. ET on April 20, 1999. 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