Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 20, 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. 16 April 11 - 17, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Widespread rainfall continued to slow fieldwork but benefit winter wheat in the Corn Belt and central Plains. At midweek, showers and thunderstorms spread from the southern Plains across the Southeast, aiding winter grains and recently planted corn, cotton, sorghum, rice, and peanuts. In Florida, however, very warm, breezy, dry weather persisted for much of the week, increasing irrigation requirements and allowing wildfires to flourish. On Saturday, scattered showers delivered only localized and temporary improvement to Peninsular Florida. Meanwhile, beneficially warm, dry conditions arrived in the West, promoting fieldwork and rapid crop development. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 8 degrees F above normal in northern California, but ranged from 4 to 10 degrees F below normal on the central and southern Plains. On the mornings of April 16-18, freezes burned back jointing winter wheat on the central and southern High Plains. Scattered frost was reported across the South at week's end. Through midweek, very warm weather (more than two dozen daily-record highs) continued across the Southeast, while cool conditions (nearly a dozen daily-record lows) persisted in the West. On Sunday, highs reached 93 degrees F in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and 92 degrees F in Florence, SC. A day later, Orlando, FL noted their fourth consecutive (91, 93, 92, and 93 degrees F) daily record. Heat persisted across Florida until Saturday, when a cold front's passage brought cooler weather and scattered showers. On Thursday, Orlando notched another record (95 degrees F), while Melbourne attained 97 degrees F, tying their monthly record set on April 25, 1967. Although Orlando collected a daily-record rainfall (0.88 inch) on Saturday, their first measurable precipitation of the month, wildfires to the south forced the closure of I-75 (Alligator Alley) across the Everglades. In southern California, heavy rain and very cool weather lingered early in the week. Sunday was the wettest April day on record in Long Beach (1.61 inches) and at the Los Angeles Civic Center (1.35 inches). On Monday, Mt. Wilson, near Los Angeles, recorded a maximum snow depth of 17 inches, while Mt. Palomar, north-northeast of San Diego, noted a high temperature of 37 degrees F. In the Northwest, widespread frost and sub-freezing temperatures were reported through midweek. On Wednesday, daily-record lows included 24 degrees F in both Hermiston, OR and Yakima, WA. Warmer air abruptly arrived thereafter, however, resulting in at least six dozen daily-record highs from April 15-17 in the West Coast States. On Thursday, Crescent City, CA registered 81 degrees F, breaking their previous record for April 15 by 13 degrees F, while in southern California, El Cajon (90, 93, and 93 degrees F) and Escondido (87, 90, and 92 degrees F) both tallied their first of three consecutive daily-record highs. Friday's high of 85 degrees F in Florence, OR was their highest temperature in nearly 3 years. On April 16-17, consecutive daily records were reported at several locations in the Northwest, including Seattle, WA (74 and 81 degrees F) and Astoria, OR (77 and 83 degrees F). Astoria's latter reading eclipsed their former record for April 16 by 14 degrees F. We 1 (4-99) In contrast, sharply colder conditions arrived across the Plains and Intermountain West, producing nearly three dozen late-week daily-record lows. In Laramie, WY, Friday's high of 26 degrees F was followed by a daily-record low of 0 degrees F on Saturday. On Friday, daily records in New Mexico included 7 degrees F in Chama, 8 degrees F in Gallup, and 11 degrees F in Las Vegas. Elsewhere, Grand Junction, CO registered 19 degrees F, their latest sub-20 degree F reading on record. A day later in Texas, Austin (Bergstrom Airport) marked their latest freeze on record with a low of 31 degrees F. Victoria, TX (38 degrees F on Saturday) posted their latest sub-40 degree F reading on record. In Kansas, Garden City (24 degrees F) and Liberal (28 degrees F) notched daily-record lows on Saturday. A slow-moving storm produced rainfall in excess of 1 inch from the central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic region. Totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches in a broad area from the east-central Plains to parts of Illinois and Indiana. On Wednesday, Grand Island, NE (2.25 inches) and Springfield, MO (2.58 inches) received daily-record precipitation. Grand Island's total was their greatest single-day amount since May 21, 1998. High winds and the aforementioned cold weather accompanied and followed the storm's trailing cold front. Winds gusted to 60 mph in Dalhart, TX, 59 mph in Childress, TX, and 58mph in Guymon, OK. Farther west, storm-total snowfall topped 1 foot along parts of the Colorado Rocky Front Range. In Hawaii, weekly temperatures averaged 1 to 3 degrees F below normal and heavy rain fell in some windward (east-facing) areas. On Sunday, Hilo's high of 68 degrees F accompanied 3.51 inches of rain and was their lowest on record in April, breaking their standard of 70 degrees F set on April 5, 1973. Meanwhile in Alaska, weekly temperatures ranged from as much as 5 degrees F below normal in western areas to 6 degrees F above normal in the interior. National Agricultural Summary April 12 - 18, 1999 Highlights: Cold air pushed southward through the Great Plains late in the week, freezing maturing wheat fields in the southern Great Plains and halting development in the central and northern Great Plains. Hail also caused crop damage in the southern Great Plains when a line of severe storms passed through during midweek. Persistent showers around a low-pressure area limited fieldwork and prevented row crop planting in most of the Corn Belt. Dry conditions along the Ohio River Valley in the southern Corn Belt and Atlantic Coastal Plains permitted steady fieldwork and an accelerated planting pace. Dry weather aided fieldwork and small grain seeding, while sunny skies improved wheat development in parts of the northern Great Plains, northern Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Northwest. Warmer temperatures were needed to dry soils in parts of the northern Great Plains and upper Mississippi Valley, while some areas of the Pacific Northwest needed rain to germinate seeds. Warmer weather encouraged planting and aided crop development in the Southwest. Winter Wheat: Nine percent of the winter wheat crop was headed, slightly ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Parts of the central and southern Great Plains received beneficial soaking rains, but freezing temperatures and hail damaged some wheat fields in the southern Great Plains. Cloudy, rainy, and cold weather hindered development in the lower Mississippi Valley and southern and central areas of the Corn Belt. In the eastern Corn Belt, lighter showers, more sunshine, and warmer weather aided development. Dry, sunny weather improved crop conditions slightly in the northern Great Plains, despite below-normal temperatures. In the Pacific Northwest, warmer, drier weather promoted healthier development, but more sunshine was needed. Conditions deteriorated in the Southeast due to dry soils. Corn: Six percent of the Nation's corn was planted, up slightly from the previous week and slightly ahead of last year, but equal to the normal pace. Progress accelerated in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and in a narrow strip along the Ohio River Valley in the southern Corn Belt where dry conditions prevailed. Elsewhere in the Corn Belt, persistent showers prevented most planting and field preparations. Dry weather aided modest progress in the central Great Plains, but soil moisture was needed to aid seed germination. Cotton: Planting advanced 5 percentage points to 10 percent complete, equal to last year's pace but behind the average for this date. Planting in the Southwest rapidly progressed, as warmer weather prevailed. Showers in southern California had little impact on planting and Arizona remained dry. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, dry weather permitted modest planting progress and active field preparations, but rain was needed to replenish soil moisture and germinate seeds. Midweek rains interrupted planting in the lower Mississippi Valley and adjacent areas of the Southeast. Small grains: Oat planting, at 32 percent, was more than 1 week ahead of last year and the 5-year average for this date. Cold, rainy weather limited planting in the northern Corn Belt, but progress remained well ahead of normal, especially in Iowa. In the eastern Corn Belt and central Great Plains, drier weather permitted rapid progress. Cool weather and poor drying conditions limited progress in the northern Great Plains. Spring wheat was 11 percent planted, equal to last year's progress, but 1 week ahead of the 7 percent average for this date. Barley planting advanced to 15 percent, compared with 16 percent last year and 14 percent normally seeded by this date. Sowing of spring wheat and barley was aided by dry, sunny weather in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains. Cool weather and slow-drying soils hindered progress in the northern Great Plains and upper Mississippi Valley. Other crops: Twenty-four percent of the rice acreage was planted, well behind last year's 40 percent and the normal pace of 31 percent. Drier weather promoted accelerated planting in the inland Mississippi Delta rice-producing areas, but progress remained behind normal. Along the western Gulf Coast, progress continued at a steady pace and remained ahead of normal. Sorghum planting was 15 percent complete, behind the 19 percent pace last year and the 5-year average of 20 percent. Progress accelerated but remained behind normal in the lower Mississippi Valley. Three percent of the peanut crop was planted, slightly ahead of last year, but equal to the 5-year average. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 2 2 5 GA : 92 83 77 86 IL : 6 2 1 4 IN : 4 2 0 2 IA : 1 0 1 2 KS : 9 3 10 9 KY : 21 8 25 20 MI : 0 0 0 0 MN : 0 0 3 2 MO : 18 12 13 18 NE : 1 0 1 1 NC : 50 25 43 50 OH : 7 4 2 2 PA : 1 0 4 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 55 53 58 58 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 17 Sts: 6 4 5 6 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 43 10 43 27 CA : 60 40 57 74 CO : 1 0 4 2 GA : 78 46 40 62 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 : 1 0 1 1 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 23 18 18 17 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 19 7 11 11 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 21 16 25 23 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 19 Sts: 9 5 8 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 21 6 17 15 AZ : 23 15 29 52 AR : 0 0 0 2 CA : 30 2 9 36 GA : 6 3 8 7 LA : 3 0 3 5 MS : 4 1 2 5 MO : 2 0 0 0 NM : 9 2 9 17 NC : 5 0 7 4 OK : 2 0 0 0 SC : 8 3 3 5 TN : 0 0 0 2 TX : 11 10 15 14 : 14 Sts: 10 5 10 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 11 5 28 22 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 12 5 20 19 MS : 17 8 21 33 MO : 0 0 0 1 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 1 0 2 3 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 39 38 48 50 : 12 Sts: 15 14 19 20 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 44 30 39 54 MN : 5 3 3 3 MT : 18 10 14 9 ND : 1 1 3 1 SD : 31 22 35 13 : 5 Sts : 11 7 11 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 28 21 29 36 MN : 1 0 3 1 MT : 20 11 12 11 ND : 0 0 1 1 SD : 17 13 26 10 WA : 50 35 69 49 : 6 Sts : 15 10 16 14 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 85 74 20 51 MI : 59 37 43 15 MN : 15 5 14 8 NE : 74 55 35 53 ND : 1 1 2 0 OH : 71 49 62 41 PA : 34 29 47 32 SD : 28 25 26 14 WI : 30 18 9 10 : 9 Sts : 32 24 19 17 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 6 NA 5 4 FL : 6 NA 1 NA GA : 4 NA 2 6 NC : 0 NA 1 0 OK : 0 NA 1 0 SC : 8 NA 0 6 TX : 2 NA 0 1 VA : 0 NA 1 1 : 8 Sts : 3 NA 2 3 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 18,:Apr 11,:Apr 18,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 8 1 33 23 CA : 0 0 0 0 LA : 70 57 75 61 MS : 24 4 34 43 TX : 54 46 71 51 : 5 Sts : 24 16 40 31 -------------------------------------- 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 15 54 30 CA : 0 0 10 85 5 CO : 3 7 24 54 12 GA : 2 11 40 43 4 ID : 0 1 10 67 22 IL : 2 1 20 68 9 IN : 0 2 14 59 25 KS : 0 3 19 59 19 MI : 0 1 7 52 40 MO : 0 4 31 54 11 MT : 1 7 38 49 5 NE : 0 1 18 71 10 NC : 0 4 20 68 8 OH : 0 1 10 56 33 OK : 0 1 18 73 8 OR : 3 11 25 56 5 SD : 0 1 11 64 24 TX : 8 14 42 30 6 WA : 5 9 41 43 2 : 19 Sts : 2 5 24 56 13 : Prev Wk : 1 4 22 59 14 Prev Yr : 0 4 20 58 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 27, 1999. 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