We 1 (10-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 19, 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. 42 October 10 - 16, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7919. HIGHLIGHTS: Irene, the ninth named storm and sixth hurricane of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season, crossed the Florida Keys east of Key West on October 15 around 8 a.m. EDT and made landfall near Cape Sable, FL about 6 hours later with sustained winds near 85 mph. Fortunately, Irene struck the sparsely populated Everglades National Park area of southwestern Florida. However, heavy tropical downpours drenched areas to the east and north of Irene's center. The hurricane produced widespread rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with locally up to 17.45 inches at Boynton Beach, and strong winds (gusts up to 85 mph in Miami Beach and Homestead) in the southern vegetable, citrus, and sugarcane areas of Florida. The resulting rains generated severe urban flooding, and the gusty winds caused power outages to hundreds of thousands of southeastern Florida customers. Irene then tracked northward, re-emerging over the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Vero Beach and headed for the Carolinas, threatening flood-ravaged sections of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia with additional heavy rains. Elsewhere, a series of fast-moving storm systems brought light to moderate precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, portions of the Rockies, south-central Texas, and most of the Nation east of the Mississippi River. From the western Corn Belt and the Plains westward, mostly dry and mild weather aided summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Soil moisture remained limited for dryland winter wheat establishment in the Northwest, particularly in Oregon. In central California, gusty winds, highs in the 90's deg F, and low humidities created ideal conditions for the ignition and spread of wildfires. Sub-freezing readings were common across the northern Intermountain West, Great Basin, and Rockies, especially late in the week as frigid air enveloped the region. In contrast, a strong southerly flow ahead of approaching storm systems on Tuesday and Friday pushed temperatures into the 90's deg F in the southern Great Plains and the 80's deg F in the central Plains and middle Mississippi River Valley. Weekly departures were up to +9 deg F in the southern Great Plains, but temperatures averaged 7 deg F below normal in northern Montana. As the week commenced, generally light rain fell across the East in advance of a cold front, although higher totals of 1 to 2 inches were measured in eastern Alabama, northern Georgia, and the western Carolinas. Cooler, drier conditions settled into the Midwest and Northeast by Monday, but record warmth covered the eastern Great Basin and central Rockies. Monday records included 91 deg F at Delta, UT, 89 deg F at Pueblo, CO, and 75 deg F at Rock Springs, WY. By Tuesday, the warmth shifted eastward, with highs in the 90's deg F in northern Kansas and 80's deg F in northern Iowa. Precipitation was limited to the northern tier of States, and in the southern Appalachians as a wave of low pressure formed along a stalled cold front. By midweek, another fast-moving storm system generated additional rainfall to the eastern Ohio Valley and Northeast. The front briefly generated a squall line as severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 70 mph across eastern Ohio. Another shot of cold air filtered across the Great Lakes region on Thursday, dropping readings to a record low of 30 deg F at Traverse City, MI. Meanwhile, near-record warmth returned to the eastern Great Basin, central Rockies, and southern Great Plains. October 14 record highs included 93 deg F at Waco, TX, 90 deg F at Pueblo, CO, and 84 deg F at Milford, UT. Farther south, minimal Hurricane Irene was lashing much of Cuba with heavy rains and strong winds while maintaining its north-northeastward course toward southern Florida. Rain bands in advance of Irene dumped a daily record of 3.77 inches on Key West, FL Thursday. The remainder of the Nation was rather tranquil as another cold front marched eastward across the northern Plains. All eyes were on Irene Friday and Saturday as it brought heavy rains and gusty winds to southern and eastern Florida, and then made a slow northward track toward the Carolinas. A large shield of rain well north of the center of Irene dumped 1 to 3 inches of rain on the coastal Carolinas Saturday, and as the hurricane neared the South Carolina coast on Sunday, heavy rains overspread the Hurricane Floyd flood-ravaged areas of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Totals of 4 to 7 inches were common from northeastern South Carolina, eastern North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia. With the heavy rains falling on top of saturated soils and swollen streams, new flooding was expected along the Tar, Neuse, and Cape Fear River systems of eastern North Carolina. Meanwhile, a strong cold front rapidly advanced eastward across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, threatening to turn Irene eastward, away from the Carolinas. Well behind the front, high pressure enveloped the West, dipping readings into the teens and single digits while setting over a dozen record lows on Saturday in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin. New record lows included 13 deg F in Burns, OR, 18 deg F in Spokane, WA, and 21 deg F in Ellensburg, WA. National Agricultural Summary October 11 - 17, 1999 Highlights: Harvest progress was limited by heavy rainfall in parts of the Southeast, but rapidly advanced with few rain delays in most other regions of the Nation. In the Corn Belt and Great Plains, farmers rapidly prepared and planted winter wheat in recently harvested fields. Warm weather promoted wheat emergence and aided early growth in the eastern Corn Belt and central Great Plains. Soil moisture levels were mostly adequate in the Corn Belt early in the week, but diminished as the week progressed. In the Great Plains, some wheat fields emerged with uneven stands due to dry soils. In California, above-normal temperatures ripened crops, and harvest progress was aided by dry weather. Corn: Fifty-nine percent of the Nation's corn acreage was harvested, 4 percentage points ahead of last year by this date and more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest continued with virtually no rain delays in the Corn Belt. Progress was more than 35 percentage points above normal in Ohio and Indiana, and more than 20 percentage points ahead of average in Iowa, Illinois, and Kentucky. Harvest was also well ahead of the 5-year average in Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Missouri . Progress lagged in the Great Plains due to slow ripening, especially in Colorado where harvest was 18 percentage points behind normal. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, progress was limited by wet soils and additional rainfall. Soybeans: Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop was dropping leaves, equal to last year's pace and slightly ahead of the 95-percent average for this date. Above-normal temperatures accelerated ripening in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Virtually all soybeans were dropping leaves in the Corn Belt. Seventy-four percent of the acreage was harvested, compared with 68 percent last year, and the 65-percent average. Ideal weather aided progress in the Corn Belt. Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska farmers harvested nearly one-fourth of their soybean acreage. Progress was only slightly slower in South Dakota and Missouri. In the eastern Corn Belt, the pace slowed as many producers finished harvesting their soybeans. Cotton: Bolls opening advanced to 95 percent complete, equal to last year, but more than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-six percent of the acreage was harvested, behind last year's 51 percent, but 4 percentage points ahead of the average for this date. Dry weather aided progress in the southern Great Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. Progress nearly doubled in Oklahoma, advancing to 41 percent complete. Harvest advanced between 15 and 20 percentage points in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Rain limited progress in parts of the Southeast, especially in the Piedmont, but also in scattered parts of Alabama and Georgia, and coastal areas of North and South Carolina. Winter Wheat: Winter wheat seeding advanced to 79 percent, 7 percentage points ahead of last year, and slightly ahead of the 5-year average. In the eastern Corn Belt, farmers rapidly prepared and seeded soft red winter wheat in recently harvested corn and soybean fields. In Oregon, many irrigated fields were planted, but seeding in dryland fields was much slower, as most producers continued to wait for rain. Fifty-five percent of the acreage was emerged, ahead of last year's 48 percent and slightly ahead of the 52-percent average for this date. Warm weather and improved moisture supplies promoted rapid emergence in the eastern Corn Belt, especially in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. However, topsoil moisture levels were precariously low. Above-normal temperatures also promoted emergence in Kansas and Oklahoma, but stands were spotty in some fields due to soil moisture shortages. Other Crops: Ninety-five percent of the rice crop was harvested, 2 percentage points ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Dry conditions aided progress in California, where producers harvested one-fourth of the crop. The sorghum crop was 92 percent mature, and the acreage was 61 percent harvested. Warm weather accelerated ripening in the Great Plains, especially in New Mexico where mature acreage nearly doubled. Dry weather aided harvest in the Corn Belt and Great Plains. Peanut harvest progressed to 59 percent, equal to the average for this date, and ahead of last year when 55 percent was harvested by this date. Digging resumed in North Carolina and Virginia, as soggy soils gradually dried. Producers in both States dug more than one-fourth of the peanut crop. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 23 9 14 24 CA : 4 2 1 3 CO : 99 96 98 95 GA : 3 2 4 5 ID : 82 66 85 80 IL : 66 36 51 62 IN : 67 42 59 64 KS : 93 79 76 88 MI : 83 61 78 77 MO : 46 26 32 46 MT : 95 81 88 85 NE : 99 97 98 99 NC : 20 15 24 25 OH : 82 62 83 75 OK : 84 74 65 77 OR : 27 5 68 67 SD : 96 92 96 97 TX : 67 59 68 72 WA : 92 84 91 92 : 19 Sts: 79 68 72 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 19 15 48 37 GA : 100 99 98 96 IL : 72 59 56 49 IN : 70 55 43 34 IA : 58 33 49 36 KS : 67 52 80 70 KY : 96 92 88 76 MI : 45 28 48 23 MN : 48 28 57 39 MO : 76 69 68 61 NE : 53 32 60 37 NC : 80 75 99 89 OH : 56 42 34 21 PA : 33 20 39 31 SD : 25 19 41 28 TX : 94 91 95 93 WI : 43 28 38 24 : 17 Sts: 59 43 55 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 1 5 9 CA : 0 0 0 0 CO : 85 75 86 84 GA : 1 0 2 2 ID : 33 21 48 44 IL : 20 3 18 23 IN : 31 7 29 28 KS : 66 45 46 60 MI : 50 26 56 51 MO : 18 7 12 21 MT : 64 43 62 56 NE : 89 79 89 90 NC : 12 4 4 3 OH : 51 10 48 33 OK : 54 33 31 37 OR : 3 1 49 36 SD : 81 71 87 86 TX : 45 35 46 53 WA : 81 63 80 76 : 19 Sts: 55 39 48 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 44 30 34 24 AR : 43 31 42 34 GA : 14 12 14 10 IL : 75 51 68 74 IN : 82 70 71 73 IA : 90 67 84 81 KS : 58 28 53 53 KY : 71 52 52 31 LA : 90 75 85 71 MI : 65 46 58 51 MN : 91 67 89 79 MS : 82 68 81 64 MO : 58 36 47 45 NE : 88 64 74 74 NC : 13 10 14 9 OH : 81 74 81 69 SC : 6 5 5 3 SD : 58 36 71 66 TN : 49 38 40 23 : 19 Sts: 74 54 68 65 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 81 64 92 77 IL : 99 91 88 87 KS : 96 86 99 94 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 94 91 98 93 NE : 92 87 100 97 NM : 88 *45 61 51 OK : 86 77 86 66 SD : 89 84 99 98 TX : 90 87 95 94 : 12 Sts: 92 85 96 92 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 96 93 94 91 AZ : 100 100 99 100 AR : 100 98 99 97 CA : 95 90 94 99 GA : 93 89 88 88 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 100 100 100 98 NM : 90 85 93 96 NC : 98 95 99 98 OK : 98 97 99 75 SC : 93 87 97 92 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 91 87 93 83 : 14 Sts: 95 91 95 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 99 96 CO : 18 15 21 22 IL : 69 51 34 34 KS : 49 28 59 51 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 100 100 100 98 MO : 69 58 67 58 NE : 37 21 54 43 NM : 14 9 10 9 OK : 39 24 28 23 SD : 29 19 62 43 TX : 87 83 72 76 : 12 Sts: 61 47 61 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 52 42 54 43 AZ : 22 13 23 35 AR : 77 62 59 53 CA : 10 3 2 21 GA : 30 24 36 33 LA : 92 83 80 77 MS : 86 68 86 68 MO : 90 82 42 50 NM : 6 2 9 11 NC : 10 5 51 31 OK : 41 21 55 25 SC : 31 23 53 35 TN : 75 59 68 53 TX : 35 28 52 36 : 14 Sts: 46 36 51 42 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 90 71 88 79 AR : 74 61 81 70 GA : 77 66 79 82 IL : 99 98 97 97 IN : 100 100 100 100 IA : 100 100 100 100 KS : 94 91 99 97 KY : 95 89 94 88 LA : 100 93 98 93 MI : 100 100 100 100 MN : 99 99 99 99 MS : 100 98 100 91 MO : 96 89 96 93 NE : 99 99 100 100 NC : 65 48 71 66 OH : 100 100 100 98 SC : 32 24 31 32 SD : 100 99 100 100 TN : 93 86 95 89 : 19 Sts: 96 94 96 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 96 93 96 94 CA : 85 60 68 74 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 96 94 98 97 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 5 Sts : 95 90 93 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 96% of last year's rice acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 17,:Oct 10,:Oct 17,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 80 68 48 71 FL : 87 86 63 47 GA : 74 67 61 75 NC : 41 15 57 49 OK : 39 30 45 43 SC : 38 28 53 62 TX : 27 21 42 33 VA : 75 49 79 85 : 8 Sts : 59 50 55 59 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut 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 : 12 29 40 18 1 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 0 1 9 42 48 :: NM : 5 7 40 40 8 AR : 18 40 32 10 0 :: NY : 0 0 40 60 0 CA : 10 40 40 10 0 :: NC : 1 17 36 42 4 CO : 2 5 25 58 10 :: ND : 1 4 21 65 9 CT : 0 2 38 60 0 :: OH : 15 30 35 18 2 DE : 0 2 38 53 7 :: OK : 5 15 40 39 1 FL : 0 0 35 65 0 :: OR : 8 37 43 12 0 GA : 7 18 44 29 2 :: PA : 12 19 33 35 1 ID : 0 28 38 32 2 :: RI : 0 20 47 29 4 IL : 20 24 38 17 1 :: SC : 4 13 45 36 2 IN : 25 28 39 8 0 :: SD : 1 3 20 56 20 IA : 11 26 35 24 4 :: TN : 34 36 26 4 0 KS : 1 9 33 54 3 :: TX : 28 35 25 10 2 KY : 23 41 27 8 1 :: UT : 2 16 32 46 4 LA : 6 22 38 29 5 :: VT : 5 5 50 40 0 ME : 0 15 6 74 5 :: VA : 5 15 29 42 9 MD : 1 8 19 59 13 :: WA : 12 29 37 20 2 MA : 4 7 56 2 31 :: WV : 9 36 47 8 0 MI : 7 23 39 26 5 :: WI : 3 12 33 43 9 MN : 3 20 32 37 8 :: WY : 0 1 14 77 8 MS : 15 22 35 26 2 :: : MO : 37 33 22 7 1 :: 48 Sts : 12 22 32 30 4 MT : 6 25 35 29 5 :: : NE : 7 16 36 38 3 :: Prev Wk: 14 21 32 29 4 NV : 5 8 24 60 3 :: Prev Yr: 6 17 34 38 5 NH : 0 15 44 37 4 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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