Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released May 10, 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. 19 May 2 - 8, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Very wet weather prevailed in the eastern Plains, western Corn Belt, and Southeast, aiding winter wheat and spring-sown crops, but causing additional planting delays. In the eastern Corn Belt, however, warm weather and only scattered showers promoted a rapid planting pace. From May 3-5, severe thunderstorms tore across parts of the Plains and Southeast, resulting in at least 100 tornadoes and more than four dozen fatalities. Late in the week, scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across Florida and adjacent areas, easing crop stress and providing localized relief from dry topsoils. Extreme dryness persisted, however, across southern Texas, where temperatures occasionally exceeded 100 degrees F. On the High Plains, favorably drier weather prevailed following last week's heavy rains. Meanwhile, beneficial showers overspread the Northwest, but very cool conditions, including scattered late-week frost, burned back small grains and increased concerns about possible adverse effects on blooming fruit trees. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 8 degrees F below normal in the Northwest and Great Basin, and as much as 5 degrees F below normal in California. In contrast, temperatures averaged up to 5 degrees F above normal in southern Texas, 10 degrees F above normal in the Great Lakes region, and nearly 20 degrees F above normal across northern New England. Near-normal readings prevailed in the Southeast and Desert Southwest. More than 2 inches of rain fell in a broad arc from the Dakotas into the Southeast in conjunction with a very slow-moving weather system. On Tuesday, daily-record rains were measured in locations such as Springfield, MO (2.45 inches) and Kearney, NE (1.95 inches). A day earlier (May 3), tornadic thunderstorms erupted across the Plains on May 3, striking hardest near Oklahoma City, OK and Wichita, KS. Preliminary surveys indicated that 26 tornadoes struck in or near Oklahoma City, the strongest of which briefly attained F5 (winds in excess of 260 mph) in Moore, OK, killing 38 people. (The last time that an Oklahoma tornado outbreak claimed more lives was on April 9, 1947, when the State's deadliest storms on record killed 116 people in Woodward.) Another powerful tornado struck Haysville, KS, packing an F4 (207 to 260 mph) intensity and resulting in five deaths. Two days later, on May 5, an F4 tornado swept through Linden, TN, leaving three people dead. Areas that benefited from the heavy rain included the northern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan. In northern Lower Michigan, both Traverse City and Gaylord reported measurable rainfall on Wednesday for the first time since April 10, ending 24-day (April 11 to May 4) dry spells. May 5-8 rainfall totaled 0.89 inch in Gaylord, and exceeded 2 inches across most of northern Wisconsin. As the storm responsible for the rainfall shifted eastward, Rapid City, SD clocked a May-record wind gust to 68 mph on Thursday. Two days earlier, strong westerly winds lifted dust from the Southwest. Peak wind gusts in western Texas reached 59 mph in Lubbock and 57 mph in El Paso. In advance of the storm system, extreme heat gripped southernmost Texas on May 4-5, further depleting soil moisture. Highs in McAllen soared to 110 and 106 degrees F. On the latter date, Brownsville posted a high temperature of 102 degrees F, their highest reading since June 8, 1989 (also 102 degrees F). Record warmth was also noted in the Great Lakes and Northeastern States. In northern Maine, Caribou logged four consecutive daily-record highs (81, 85, 82, and 81 degrees F) from May 3-6. In contrast, cool weather lingered in the East early in the week, producing more than a dozen daily-record lows. On Sunday in Florida, St. Petersburg's low of 56 degrees F tied their May record. A day later, Augusta, GA noted 41 degrees F. A more impressive cool snap affected the West in the storm system's wake. Klamath Falls, OR notched daily record-tying lows on Wednesday (23 degrees F) and Friday (24 degrees F). On Saturday, sub-freezing, daily-record lows were tallied in locations such as Yakima, WA (25 degrees F) and Boise, ID (31 degrees F). Showers accompanied the cool weather in the Northwest, and in Spokane, WA, snow accumulated twice during the first 9 days of May, including 0.3 inch on May 9. During the previous 118 years (1881-1998), measurable snow fell in Spokane during May on only 5 days. Very cool weather prevailed in Alaska, particularly in western areas, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 12 degrees F below normal. On May 1-2, snow fell in interior Alaska, totaling 7 inches in Northway and 6 inches in Delta Junction. Only 0.4 inch accumulated in Fairbanks, boosting their seasonal total to 31.0 inches (the third-lowest seasonal amount during the 95-year period of record). National Agricultural Summary May 3 - 9, 1999 Highlights: Planters rolled across fields in the Corn Belt nearly non-stop, as warmer, drier weather prevailed most of the week. Thunderstorms struck eastern Oklahoma and adjacent areas of Kansas and Missouri with locally damaging hail, severe tornadoes, and heavy rains that eroded soils and flooded small streams. The Tennessee Valley and adjacent areas of the Southeast and lower Mississippi Valley also received heavy rains that halted fieldwork and delayed planting. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, planting progress lagged most of the week due to excessively dry soils. Late-week showers eased moisture shortages in some areas of Georgia and South Carolina, but muddy fields prevented planting at the end of the week. Interior areas of the Pacific Northwest remained unfavorably dry, while coastal areas received significant showers. Crops steadily developed in California, despite a resumption of below-normal temperatures, and fieldwork was active as dry conditions prevailed. Corn: Acreage planted rapidly advanced to 55 percent complete, more than double the 21 percent completed a week earlier. The record-setting pace in most of the Corn Belt pushed progress ahead of the 5-year average for the first time this spring. Warmer, drier weather combined with gusty winds, rapidly removed excess moisture from soggy soils and allowed growers in the Corn Belt to run planters nearly non-stop in some areas. Illinois and Iowa planted half of their total acreage during the week, and Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin planted nearly half of their acreage. The planting pace rapidly accelerated in Michigan and remained active in Minnesota. Persistent showers hampered planting along the western border of the Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the central and northern Great Plains. Eleven percent of the acreage was emerged, compared with 15 percent a year ago and remained behind normal in the western Corn Belt, where soil crusting hindered emergence in some fields. Winter Wheat: Forty-three percent of the winter wheat was headed, a few days ahead of last year's 37 percent and the normal 36 percent. Some fields were flattened by strong winds in Oklahoma and Kansas. In other areas of the Great Plains, soils were favorably dry except in southeastern Nebraska and the eastern half of South Dakota, where soil moisture levels were excessively high. Below-normal temperatures and dry soils stressed wheat fields in the Pacific Northwest. Cotton: The Nation's cotton acreage was 35 planted, up 13 percentage points from last week, but continued to lag slightly behind last year and the 5-year average for this date. Dry soils hindered progress in the Atlantic Coastal Plains early in the week. Late-week rains halted planting in parts of the Southeast. Planting rapidly progressed in the lower Mississippi Valley despite midweek showers in Mississippi. Soil crusting hindered emergence in some areas following heavy rains. Soybeans: Planting was 12 percent complete, compared with 14 percent a year ago and the normal of 11 percent. Weather conditions significantly improved in the Corn Belt and were nearly ideal for planting east of the Mississippi River, but progress was slow, as growers concentrated their efforts on planting corn. Progress was faster in the eastern Corn Belt, especially in Ohio, where the weather was warmer and drier than the western Corn Belt. The advanced corn planting allowed Ohio growers to accelerate soybean drilling. Growers delayed planting in the Southeast and Atlantic Coastal Plains due to dry soils. Progress accelerated in the lower Mississippi Valley, but heavy, midweek rain temporarily halted progress in Mississippi. Planters began returning to fields near the end of the week. Small grains: Oat planting advanced to 69 percent complete, ahead of the 62 percent average for this date, but behind the rapid 84 percent pace of a year ago. Forty-seven percent was emerged, compared to 52 percent last year. Spring wheat was 56 percent planted and 28 percent emerged. Planting and emergence were 10 percentage points ahead of the average, but well behind 1998, when 79 percent was planted and 44 percent was emerged. Barley planting, at 52 percent, and emergence, at 27 percent, were also slightly ahead of normal, but well behind last year's pace. Small grain planting was interrupted by persistent showers in the northern Great Plains. Drier weather aided planting farther west in the High Plains and northern Rockies. Emergence was aided by near-normal temperatures and adequate soil moisture supplies. Other crops: The rice crop was 74 percent planted and 46 percent emerged. Planting was slightly ahead of last year and the average, but emergence lagged slightly behind 1998 and the average. Sorghum planting was 21 percent complete, behind the 28 percent pace last year and the 5-year average of 29 percent. Rapid progress in the lower Mississippi Valley was aided by dry weather early in the week. Twenty-five percent of the peanut crop was planted, behind last year's 28 percent and well behind the 5-year average in the larger peanut-producing states. Progress was hindered by dry soils in the Southeast early in the week. Rain late in the week provided desperately needed moisture, but as the week ended, fields remained too muddy to plant. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 26 11 72 60 GA : 100 98 90 96 IL : 58 8 38 51 IN : 57 10 13 32 IA : 66 14 71 63 KS : 47 26 87 69 KY : 78 65 37 48 MI : 41 7 46 28 MN : 79 41 92 58 MO : 39 31 52 55 NE : 27 14 77 56 NC : 85 75 74 89 OH : 71 24 13 38 PA : 42 13 27 28 SD : 20 7 53 23 TX : 81 74 90 88 WI : 53 11 47 33 : 17 Sts: 55 21 58 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 53 38 63 60 AZ : 77 63 87 92 AR : 37 7 34 37 CA : 90 70 58 82 GA : 28 20 35 52 LA : 71 28 60 67 MS : 46 23 38 53 MO : 40 7 14 21 NM : 64 51 68 68 NC : 40 15 39 45 OK : 9 7 11 7 SC : 33 20 35 54 TN : 32 12 10 36 TX : 20 16 32 29 : 14 Sts: 35 22 37 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Corn: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 3 2 15 10 GA : 97 96 84 NA IL : 9 3 10 NA IN : 9 2 3 NA IA : 2 0 7 6 KS : 16 5 34 NA KY : 54 33 22 35 MI : 3 0 19 4 MN : 8 1 37 9 MO : 27 0 0 NA NE : 2 0 7 5 NC : 72 60 64 NA OH : 16 5 4 6 PA : 3 0 4 1 SD : 0 0 9 2 TX : 67 58 72 NA WI : 1 0 1 NA : 17 Sts: 11 5 15 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States planted 90% of last year's corn acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 60 38 71 66 CO : 2 0 1 5 IL : 0 0 0 1 KS : 2 0 6 6 LA : 66 49 71 60 MS : 83 48 53 67 MO : 6 0 6 10 NE : 0 0 8 3 NM : 0 0 1 1 OK : 3 2 7 9 SD : 0 0 23 5 TX : 47 44 58 63 : 12 Sts: 21 18 28 29 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 91 97 92 CA : 98 95 99 98 CO : 3 3 4 3 GA : 96 94 98 98 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 29 3 41 16 IN : 23 3 33 15 KS : 38 12 21 24 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 35 13 45 28 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 1 0 0 0 NC : 97 80 91 90 OH : 1 0 4 1 OK : 86 68 79 80 OR : 0 0 1 2 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 80 62 67 67 WA : 0 0 5 2 : 19 Sts: 43 29 37 36 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 70 50 76 75 CA : 50 20 3 23 LA : 89 85 96 88 MS : 85 74 85 89 TX : 93 89 95 83 : 5 Sts : 74 58 71 72 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 35 12 48 46 CA : 10 1 0 5 LA : 82 70 85 75 MS : 47 31 62 69 TX : 82 73 84 63 : 5 Sts : 46 29 52 49 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's rice acreage. Soybeans: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 10 6 13 13 AR : 10 7 19 13 GA : 8 5 5 8 IL : 6 0 3 9 IN : 21 4 3 11 IA : 5 0 13 11 KS : 4 0 12 7 KY : 10 2 1 3 LA : 30 19 44 24 MI : 8 0 9 4 MN : 17 3 48 16 MS : 43 29 38 36 MO : 3 1 4 4 NE : 1 0 10 5 NC : 7 0 12 12 OH : 41 13 4 14 SC : 13 11 18 9 SD : 2 0 12 3 TN : 6 2 3 3 : 19 Sts: 12 3 14 11 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Peanuts: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 32 14 45 44 FL : 33 16 35 NA GA : 22 11 29 54 NC : 38 2 14 22 OK : 10 4 32 15 SC : 46 35 28 53 TX : 16 4 20 11 VA : 52 7 28 39 : 8 Sts : 25 9 28 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 84 79 88 85 MN : 64 37 90 40 MT : 74 54 81 65 ND : 33 25 69 29 SD : 82 73 96 60 : 5 Sts : 56 42 79 46 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 70 56 83 76 MN : 42 25 87 37 MT : 75 58 82 62 ND : 20 14 62 27 SD : 69 51 93 49 WA : 94 88 97 88 : 6 Sts : 52 41 77 51 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 99 96 91 92 MI : 90 77 91 71 MN : 76 52 94 74 NE : 98 96 100 97 ND : 20 15 60 24 OH : 97 87 89 84 PA : 86 73 81 78 SD : 71 54 94 55 WI : 93 77 93 72 : 9 Sts : 69 58 84 62 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 58 43 55 62 MN : 30 8 50 16 MT : 28 11 47 21 ND : 16 3 33 9 SD : 56 31 70 30 : 5 Sts : 28 11 44 18 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 96% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 43 28 48 48 MN : 19 4 43 12 MT : 30 14 45 20 ND : 6 1 24 7 SD : 36 16 64 26 WA : 76 61 82 68 : 6 Sts : 27 15 41 24 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 83% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:May 9, :May 2, :May 9, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 88 77 62 68 MI : 64 52 61 28 MN : 49 12 67 33 NE : 90 90 74 45 ND : 8 1 23 6 OH : 89 70 75 59 PA : 53 39 53 31 SD : 38 21 63 31 WI : 59 27 55 NA : 9 Sts: 47 30 52 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 9 States planted 57% of last year's oat 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 : 8 11 26 45 10 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 20 23 31 25 1 :: NM : 14 27 44 12 3 AR : 0 2 30 60 8 :: NY : 0 10 54 36 0 CA : 0 0 25 65 10 :: NC : 0 4 24 62 10 CO : 1 5 24 54 16 :: ND : 0 6 27 60 7 CT : 0 5 27 68 0 :: OH : 0 3 20 55 22 DE : 0 2 26 52 20 :: OK : 1 7 26 57 9 FL : 15 50 25 10 0 :: OR : 0 11 41 46 2 GA : 4 15 43 35 3 :: PA : 1 7 42 46 4 ID : 0 1 10 75 14 :: RI : 0 1 13 13 73 IL : 0 1 14 66 19 :: SC : 1 4 32 56 7 IN : 0 2 18 64 16 :: SD : 0 1 12 60 27 IA : 0 2 17 59 22 :: TN : 0 3 25 59 13 KS : 0 1 17 65 17 :: TX : 5 14 39 35 7 KY : 1 3 27 54 15 :: UT : 0 2 24 65 9 LA : 6 15 38 36 5 :: VT : 0 9 56 33 2 ME : 17 8 63 12 0 :: VA : 3 19 43 32 3 MD : 1 6 19 67 7 :: WA : 6 17 38 32 7 MA : 0 26 23 51 0 :: WV : 1 11 35 48 5 MI : 4 12 29 47 8 :: WI : 1 5 15 52 27 MN : 1 6 30 52 11 :: WY : 0 8 25 52 15 MS : 3 7 30 53 7 :: : MO : 0 2 20 60 18 :: 48 Sts : 2 8 28 51 11 MT : 2 6 39 45 8 :: : NE : 0 4 17 63 16 :: Prev Wk: 2 9 28 50 11 NV : 0 2 14 82 2 :: Prev Yr: 2 6 25 51 16 NH : 0 4 27 52 17 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 3 15 51 31 CA : 0 0 15 80 5 CO : 2 4 15 51 28 GA : 11 22 36 28 3 ID : 0 1 19 62 18 IL : 1 3 17 64 15 IN : 0 1 12 63 24 KS : 0 4 15 59 22 MI : 1 2 14 61 22 MO : 1 5 34 52 8 MT : 5 11 34 47 3 NE : 0 2 16 67 15 NC : 0 1 19 69 11 OH : 0 1 8 56 35 OK : 0 2 16 73 9 OR : 4 19 35 35 7 SD : 0 1 13 58 28 TX : 4 11 35 39 11 WA : 5 8 32 51 4 : 19 Sts : 1 5 21 57 16 : Prev Wk : 1 5 21 58 15 Prev Yr : 1 7 23 54 15 -------------------------------------- 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 18, 1999. 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!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.