We 1 (4-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 27, 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 18 - 24, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Persistent rainfall generally benefited winter wheat but stalled spring planting across the Plains and the Corn Belt. Excessive rain fell toward week's end, however, in parts of Oklahoma, causing localized lowland flooding. Heavy snow blanketed portions of the central Rockies and central High Plains. In the West, mostly dry weather continued to favor fieldwork, but cooler weather replaced beneficial warmth. Meanwhile in the South, scattered early-week frost had few effects on agricultural operations. Temperatures quickly rebounded across Florida and southern Georgia, however, further depleting topsoil moisture and maintaining the risk of additional wildfires. Topsoils turned dry again in southern Texas, where significant rain last fell in late March. Late in the week, widespread frost and sub-freezing temperatures occurred across the northern Corn Belt and Northeast, burning back recent winter grain growth and increasing grower concerns about adverse effects on blooming fruit trees. On April 18-19, record warmth prevailed in California, resulting in more than 30 daily-record highs. On Sunday, El Cajon posted their fourth consecutive daily-record high (90, 93, 93, and 94 degrees F. A day later, highs soared to 104 degrees F in both Palm Springs and Thermal. Just 9 days earlier, on April 10, Thermal had noted a daily-record low of 33 degrees F. Meanwhile, frost and near-freezing temperatures shifted from the central and southern Plains into the Southeast. From April 18-20, daily-record lows were set in more than two dozen locations, including Meridian, MS (33 degrees F on Sunday), Charlotte, NC (33 degrees F on Sunday), and Orlando, FL (46 degrees F on Monday). Tallahassee, FL reported consecutive record lows on Sunday (32 degrees F) and Monday (35 degrees F). Melbourne, FL logged a daily-record low (50 degrees F on Tuesday) just 5 days after an April-record high (97 degrees F on April 15). Despite the cooler weather, little rain fell in Florida and southern Georgia, allowing wildfire activity to continue. Through April 20, wildfires in Florida consumed more than 230,000 acres (more than 360 square miles), accounting for more than 40 percent of the Nation's year-to-date burned acreage (532,151 acres, or more than 830 square miles). Showers persisted across the Corn Belt for much of the week, boosting April 1-25 precipitation to 6.70 inches (284 percent of normal) in Madison, WI, 6.69 inches (236 percent) in Grand Rapids, MI, and 6.39 inches (287 percent) in Rochester, MN. Grand Rapids collected daily-record totals on Thursday (1.72 inches) and Friday (1.44 inches). The only wetter April in Rochester occurred in 1990, when 6.47 inches fell. Farther west, 1.28 inches of rain pelted Miles City, MT on Wednesday, accounting for nearly 40 percent of their year-to-date total. Meanwhile, heavy snow blanketed portions of the Rocky Mountain region. In Lander, WY, April 21-24 snowfall totaled 52.7 inches, most of which fell on Thursday (28.6 inches) and Friday (17.6 inches). Nearby Riverton, WY netted 22.2 inches during the same 4-day period. Lander's April 1-25 precipitation (rain and melted snow) reached 5.72 inches (340 percent of normal), accounting for nearly 80 percent of their year-to-date total, while their month-to-date snowfall rose to 70.4 inches. April is typically Lander's snowiest month, yielding 20.3 inches. Heavy snow fell as far south as northern Arizona's Kaibab Plateau, where Jacob Lake received 12 inches on Friday. Elsewhere on Friday, a State-record, low-elevation (below 5,000 feet) wind gust was clocked at 113 mph in Brigham City, UT. Farther east, warmer weather briefly replaced the early-week chill on the Plains. On Tuesday, the temperature in Wichita, KS climbed above 80 degrees F for the first time this year. Thereafter, rain dampened the central Plains during the mid- to late-week period, accompanied by cooler conditions. Late-week rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches in Oklahoma (except the panhandle) and southeastern Kansas. On Saturday, Amarillo, TX registered a high temperature of 44 degrees F. In contrast, daily-record highs occurred in Mobile, AL (91 degrees F) and New Orleans (Audubon Park), LA (92 degrees F). Farther north, sharply cooler air overspread the Nation's northeastern quadrant at week's end. On Saturday, lows included 23 degrees F in Lansing, MI and 27 degrees F in Binghamton, NY. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 11 degrees F above normal in interior Alaska, where more than 20 daily-record highs were set or tied from April 18-20. Several locations notched records on all 3 days, including Fairbanks (68, 66, and 64 degrees F) and Northway (57, 59, and 58 degrees F). Fairbanks previously had never experienced a high at or above 68 degrees F prior to April 25. Meanwhile, wet conditions persisted across south-central and southeastern Alaska. Through Sunday, April 25, Juneau's monthly precipitation totaled 7.37 inches, above both the monthly normal (2.77 inches) and their former April record (5.32 inches in 1980). National Agricultural Summary April 19 - 25, 1999 Highlights: Heavy rains prevented fieldwork and planting in the northern Corn Belt, and lighter rainfall limited progress in other areas of the Corn Belt. In the southern Great Plains, a powerful line of thunderstorms delivered brief heavy downpours that increased soil moisture levels and aided crop development. Hail and isolated flooding associated with the thunderstorms damaged some wheat in Oklahoma. In the Southeast and Atlantic Coastal Plains, continued dry weather aided fieldwork, but discouraged planting and hindered crop emergence. Warm, windy weather aided planting and field preparations in the lower Mississippi Valley, and dry, sunny weather assisted fieldwork and small grain seeding in the northern Great Plains. Dry soils stressed winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest. In California, warm, dry weather promoted crop development, and field activities rapidly progressed. A slow-moving upper-level low pressure system over the Great Basin produced a mixture of precipitation that replenished topsoil moisture in parts of the central High Plains and Rockies. Winter Wheat: Fifteen percent of the winter wheat was headed, compared with 14 percent last year and 13 percent normally headed by this date. Maturing fields benefited from warmer weather in the southern Great Plains. Many fields began turning color in Louisiana and Texas, and a few fields were harvested along the western Gulf Coast and inland areas of southern Texas. Rains increased soil moisture levels and aided development in Oklahoma, but flooding and hail damaged some fields. In Kansas, where most of the wheat was in the jointing stage, conditions remained good despite earlier cold weather. Rain provided additional soil moisture in Colorado and Wyoming. Seasonal temperatures aided development in most of the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains. Dry soils stressed fields in the Pacific Northwest. Corn: Planting advanced to 10 percent, but fell behind last year's pace and the 5-year average due to continued wet conditions in the Corn Belt. Heavy rains prevented most field preparations and planting across the northern Corn Belt. In most other areas of the Corn Belt, lighter rainfall extended muddy field conditions and hindered efforts to prepare and plant fields. Along the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys in the southern Corn Belt, drier conditions prevailed and planting accelerated. Drier weather aided planting in the central Great Plains and along the western edge of the Corn Belt, but progress remained behind normal. Dry soils discouraged planting and hindered emergence and growth in the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Planting steadily progressed in the Texas High Plains and growth improved following a brief period of near-freezing temperatures. Warmer weather also aided development in central Texas and along the western Gulf Coast, where fields were entering the reproductive stage. Cotton: Fourteen percent of the Nation's cotton acreage was planted, up 4 percentage points from last week, but slightly behind last year's 15 percent and the 19 percent average for this date. Dry conditions aided field preparations in most areas from Texas to the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Planting steadily progressed along the Atlantic Coastal Plains despite excessively dry soils that hindered germination. In parts of the Southeast, dryness curtailed most planting activity. In a few areas of the Mississippi Delta, field conditions were nearly ideal for planting, but soil moisture levels rapidly declined due to hot, windy weather. Small grains: Oat planting, at 39 percent, was 1 week ahead of the 5-year average, but behind the pace of a year ago. Rain limited planting across northern areas of the Corn Belt, while dry weather aided progress in the northern Great Plains. Spring wheat was 21 percent planted and barley planting advanced to 26 percent. Seeding of both small grains was behind last year's rapid pace, but slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Progress was aided by warm, sunny weather that dried moist soils in the northern Great Plains. Warm, dry weather also boosted progress in the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. Other crops: Rice planting rapidly advanced to 44 percent complete, but remained well behind last year's 54 percent pace and slightly behind the 47 percent average. Sorghum planting was 17 percent complete, behind the 20 percent pace last year and the 5-year average of 22 percent. Sorghum and rice planting accelerated in the lower Mississippi Valley, as warm, windy weather rapidly dried wet soils. Peanuts planted doubled to 6 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year, but behind the 5-year average. Progress was hampered by dry soils in the Southeast and Atlantic Coastal Plains. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 9 3 12 14 GA : 96 92 81 91 IL : 7 6 6 15 IN : 5 4 3 9 IA : 3 1 3 10 KS : 19 9 49 31 KY : 43 21 31 32 MI : 0 0 4 1 MN : 6 0 23 10 MO : 28 18 28 32 NE : 8 1 10 10 NC : 70 50 50 67 OH : 9 7 4 11 PA : 2 1 7 4 SD : 1 0 7 2 TX : 62 55 72 67 WI : 1 0 3 2 : 17 Sts: 10 6 14 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 72 43 70 55 CA : 80 60 81 91 CO : 1 1 0 0 GA : 89 78 63 79 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 1 0 IN : 1 0 4 1 KS : 1 0 0 1 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 2 1 7 4 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 50 23 33 36 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 35 19 28 28 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 38 21 37 36 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 19 Sts: 15 9 14 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 23 21 26 29 AZ : 39 23 49 70 AR : 4 0 2 6 CA : 40 30 23 55 GA : 13 6 10 17 LA : 18 3 12 15 MS : 8 4 5 15 MO : 2 2 3 3 NM : 33 9 23 35 NC : 10 5 9 11 OK : 3 2 6 2 SC : 15 8 6 14 TN : 6 0 3 5 TX : 13 11 19 17 : 14 Sts: 14 10 15 19 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 28 11 45 38 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 45 12 30 34 MS : 31 17 41 47 MO : 0 0 2 4 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 1 1 4 4 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 41 39 50 54 : 12 Sts: 17 15 20 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 59 44 62 67 MN : 12 5 29 12 MT : 25 18 37 22 ND : 7 1 20 6 SD : 57 31 65 31 : 5 Sts : 21 11 33 16 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 41 28 45 51 MN : 4 1 26 10 MT : 39 20 34 24 ND : 3 0 13 5 SD : 37 17 61 24 WA : 75 50 76 60 : 6 Sts : 26 15 32 23 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 92 85 44 69 MI : 73 59 62 35 MN : 20 15 50 26 NE : 87 74 73 74 ND : 3 1 14 4 OH : 77 71 71 58 PA : 51 34 61 48 SD : 38 28 62 31 WI : 38 30 41 28 : 9 Sts : 39 32 44 32 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 6 7 11 FL : 15 6 8 NA GA : 7 4 5 16 NC : 0 0 3 4 OK : 1 0 5 1 SC : 22 8 2 16 TX : 3 2 1 2 VA : 2 0 4 5 : 8 Sts : 6 3 4 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Apr 25,:Apr 18,:Apr 25,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 33 8 52 46 CA : 1 0 0 3 LA : 80 70 84 69 MS : 63 24 60 65 TX : 77 54 81 62 : 5 Sts : 44 24 54 47 -------------------------------------- 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 2 14 54 30 CA : 0 0 10 85 5 CO : 4 8 19 47 22 GA : 7 23 34 34 2 ID : 0 1 11 67 21 IL : 0 3 20 65 12 IN : 0 3 16 59 22 KS : 1 4 21 54 20 MI : 0 1 14 48 37 MO : 1 6 35 49 9 MT : 3 5 47 43 2 NE : 1 1 18 73 7 NC : 0 2 24 66 8 OH : 0 1 11 57 31 OK : 0 1 15 75 9 OR : 3 15 39 40 3 SD : 0 1 13 64 22 TX : 6 14 36 37 7 WA : 3 7 43 45 2 : 19 Sts : 2 5 24 55 14 : Prev Wk : 2 5 24 56 13 Prev Yr : 1 4 20 57 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 May 4, 1999. 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