We 1 (10-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 26, 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. 43 October 17 - 23, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Hurricane Irene veered out to sea on the night of October 17-18, sparing the Mid-Atlantic region from another direct strike, but not before dumping an additional 4 to 7 inches of rain on recently flooded areas of southeastern Virginia and eastern North Carolina. Favorably drier weather returned to the East toward week's end, including citrus, sugarcane, and vegetable areas of southern and eastern Florida battered by Irene on October 15-16. Meanwhile in California, warm (up to 5 degrees F above normal), dry weather favored fieldwork, including cotton harvesting and initial winter wheat planting. In the Northwest, however, drought continued to hamper dryland winter wheat planting, emergence, and establishment. Dry weather also prevailed in winter wheat areas of the Ohio Valley, where early-October rainfall provided only temporary relief from the 15-month drought. Across the South, cool, mostly dry weather promoted summer crop harvesting, but continued to stress pastures and fall-sown crops. Season-ending frosts and freezes aided crop dry-down from the central Plains to the Midwest, while scattered late-week frost across the South burned back some emerging winter grains. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal in Texas and 4 to 8 degrees F below normal in the central Plains and Midwest. Light rain, sleet, and wet snow briefly accompanied early-week temperatures near the freezing mark (32 degrees F) on the southern High Plains. In southern Texas, meanwhile, early-week showers benefited fall-sown crops. Irene, which had produced hurricane-force wind gusts (as high as 85 mph in Homestead) while crossing southeastern Florida on the afternoon of October 15, emerged the following morning over the Atlantic Ocean near Fort Pierce. The minimal (Category 1) hurricane moved northward, closing to within about 60 miles of Edisto Island, SC by midday on October 17. Irene then turned northeastward, remaining approximately 60 miles offshore while tracking parallel to the coastal Carolinas. Storm-total rainfall topped 4 inches in the eastern Carolinas, southeastern Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula. Heaviest rainfall (locally as much as 12 inches) was observed in the Norfolk, VA area. On Monday, the interaction of Hurricane Irene and a cold front brought heavy precipitation and high winds to eastern Massachusetts, where Nantucket reported 5.37 inches of rain and a peak wind gust to 60 mph. Meanwhile, a strong early-week push of cold air resulted in nearly three dozen daily-record lows, primarily from the Plains into the Northwest. Upslope air flow on the High Plains resulted in some lingering light precipitation early in the week. In contrast, late-season warmth intensified across the West Coast States, especially after midweek, producing more than three dozen daily-record highs. On Thursday, record highs in southern California included 100 degrees F in Simi Valley and 99 degrees F in Thermal. Record warmth spread as far north as Oregon, reaching areas that had experienced record cold less than a week earlier. In the Northwest, the dry, warm conditions aggravated the 7-month drought, further reducing soil moisture for developing winter wheat, following recent burn-back freezes. LaGrande, OR posted a daily-record high of 75 degrees F on October 21, just 2 days after a daily-record low of 19 degrees F. Similarly, Ukiah, OR notched consecutive daily-record highs (82 and 81 degrees F) on October 21-22, following consecutive daily-record lows (8 and 12 degrees F) and October 16-17. The cold wave peaked across the Plains on October 17-18. On Sunday, lows in Nebraska dipped to 11 degrees F in Alliance and 14 degrees F in Scottsbluff. In Wyoming, Laramie notched a daily-record low of 6 degrees F. Lubbock, TX recorded a low of 32 degrees F on Sunday, accompanied by rain and a trace of snow and sleet, their first frozen precipitation in October since 1996. Lubbock's earliest trace of snowfall on record occurred on October 12, 1986. A day later, record lows included 22 degrees F in Ashland, KS and 27 degrees F in St. Joseph, MO. Meanwhile in California, large fires in the Shasta-Trinity (more than 130,000 acres) and Los Padres (more than 85,000 acres) National Forests were largely contained by week's end. Year-to-date U.S. wildfires have burned more than 5,100,000 acres, although more than half the acreage was consumed in Alaska (during July) and the Great Basin (during August). Despite the recent large fires, California's January 1 - October 24 burned acreage, about 715,000 acres, accounted for only 14 percent of the national total. Sharply colder weather overspread interior and western Alaska, holding weekly temperatures as much as 8 degrees F below normal. Meanwhile, generally beneficial, locally heavy rainfall fell across Hawaii's western islands. On Oahu, Honolulu's October 1-24 rainfall reached 1.99 inches (114 percent of normal), boosting their year-to-date total to 8.81 inches (60 percent). During the period from November 1, 1997 - October 24, 1999, Honolulu's rainfall of 14.61 inches (34 percent of normal) was 28.89 inches below normal. However, only light rain fell in the eastern islands, where moisture deficits have been accumulating in many leeward (west-facing) locations for 2 years. National Agricultural Summary October 18 - 24, 1999 Highlights: Dry weather prevailed across most of the Nation, aiding harvest progress and fall planting. Hurricane Irene dumped heavy rainfall along the Atlantic Coast from Florida to New England, further delaying harvest progress in the Carolinas. Scattered light showers and snow briefly delayed harvest in the southern Great Plains early in the week. Abundant sunshine promoted wheat emergence and aided growth where soil moisture levels were adequate, but below-normal temperatures limited development in most areas of the Great Plains and Corn Belt. Above-normal temperatures aided growth of emerged wheat in the northern High Plains and Pacific Northwest, but moisture shortages hindered germination in many dryland fields. Corn: Seventy-seven percent of the Nation's corn acreage was harvested, 7 percentage points ahead of a year ago, and more than 1 week ahead of the 57-percent average for this date. Progress rapidly advanced in the Corn Belt, with virtually no rain delays. The harvest advanced more than 20 percentage points in most areas of the northern and western Corn Belt, led by Minnesota and Iowa, at 30 and 28 percentage points, respectively. The harvest pace accelerated in the central Great Plains, but remained well behind the 5-year average in Colorado due to slow ripening. Progress also lagged behind normal in the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Slow ripening and scattered showers limited progress in Pennsylvania, while heavy rain and muddy fields hindered progress in North Carolina. Soybeans: Eighty-six percent of the acreage was harvested, compared with 80 percent last year and the 78-percent average. Nearly ideal harvest weather prevailed in the Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and most of the Southeast. Harvest neared completion in the western Corn Belt and quickly approached completion in the central and eastern Corn Belt. South Dakota farmers harvested more than 30 percent of their soybean acreage, while farmers in Kansas and Michigan combined more than 20 percent of their soybeans. Below-normal temperatures delayed ripening of double-cropped and other late-planted soybeans in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, but harvest remained well ahead of normal in Kentucky and Tennessee. Harvest also progressed ahead of normal in the Southeast and Mississippi Delta States. Precipitation from Hurricane Irene limited harvest activity in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, but progress remained slightly ahead of the normal pace in North and South Carolina. Cotton: Fifty-five percent of the acreage was harvested, behind last year's 60-percent pace, but 3 percentage points ahead of the average for this date. In California, where warm, dry weather prevailed, defoliating was nearly complete and picking rapidly accelerated, advancing 30 percentage points. Early-week showers and snow temporarily halted harvest in the Texas High Plains, but progress resumed by midweek. Harvest was active in Oklahoma and gained momentum in New Mexico due to mostly dry weather. Harvest advanced to 60 percent in Oklahoma, more than twice the normal rate. Progress was slightly slower in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast, even though nearly ideal weather prevailed. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, heavy rainfall limited harvest activity and reduced fiber quality. In North Carolina, harvest progress was only one-third of the 44-percent normal for this date. Winter Wheat: Eighty-six percent of the acreage was seeded and 67 percent was emerged. Planting progress and crop emergence were equal to the 5-year average and ahead of a year ago. Planting neared completion in the central and northern Great Plains, but lagged behind the 5-year average in Texas. Soft red winter wheat planting rapidly advanced in the Corn Belt, as many farmers finished harvesting row crops and immediately focused their attention on seeding wheat. Sowing rapidly advanced in Oregon, despite severe soil moisture shortages. Irrigated fields rapidly emerged, but dryland fields in Oregon, Montana, and Idaho needed rain to germinate seeds. Adequate moisture supplies aided crop emergence in most of the Corn Belt and Great Plains. However, increasing moisture shortages limited germination in some areas of the Corn Belt, especially in Missouri, where soils were extremely dry. Abundant sunshine promoted crop development where moisture was available, although cooler-than-normal temperatures limited growth. Other Crops: The sorghum crop was 96 percent mature, and the acreage was 77 percent harvested. Acreage mature was behind last year's progress, but equal to the 5-year average, while harvest progress exceeded last year's 74 percent and the 70-percent average for this date. Harvest activity accelerated in the central and northern Great Plains. Peanut harvest advanced to 69 percent complete, equal to last year's pace, but slightly behind the average for this date. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 40 23 38 40 CA : 5 4 2 6 CO : 100 99 100 99 GA : 7 3 9 9 ID : 90 82 93 89 IL : 88 66 80 82 IN : 84 67 79 82 KS : 97 93 92 95 MI : 92 83 87 91 MO : 67 46 44 61 MT : 97 95 97 94 NE : 99 99 99 100 NC : 25 20 29 30 OH : 91 82 95 90 OK : 92 84 76 87 OR : 61 27 81 77 SD : 98 96 100 99 TX : 71 67 75 80 WA : 93 92 97 96 : 19 Sts: 86 79 82 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 36 19 62 54 GA : 100 100 99 97 IL : 85 72 71 66 IN : 84 70 65 51 IA : 86 58 67 56 KS : 83 67 91 83 KY : 98 96 94 83 MI : 60 45 58 32 MN : 78 48 78 58 MO : 84 76 78 71 NE : 74 53 73 54 NC : 85 80 100 92 OH : 67 56 50 36 PA : 37 33 51 41 SD : 44 25 53 43 TX : 97 94 98 96 WI : 63 43 55 38 : 17 Sts: 77 59 70 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 15 7 15 19 CA : 1 0 0 1 CO : 94 85 87 90 GA : 3 1 5 5 ID : 43 33 62 57 IL : 51 20 47 51 IN : 52 31 51 52 KS : 82 66 75 79 MI : 65 50 75 69 MO : 32 18 26 37 MT : 78 64 78 69 NE : 96 89 95 97 NC : 15 12 9 9 OH : 74 51 73 55 OK : 66 54 50 59 OR : 18 3 61 48 SD : 90 81 94 91 TX : 50 45 56 63 WA : 82 81 89 83 : 19 Sts: 67 55 64 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 53 44 47 36 AR : 59 43 59 50 GA : 19 14 21 16 IL : 92 75 83 86 IN : 92 82 87 85 IA : 98 90 92 93 KS : 80 58 66 71 KY : 73 71 74 48 LA : 95 90 92 80 MI : 87 65 74 72 MN : 96 91 94 91 MS : 90 82 90 73 MO : 74 58 65 63 NE : 96 88 86 89 NC : 15 13 19 13 OH : 87 81 91 83 SC : 10 6 10 7 SD : 89 58 84 84 TN : 63 49 53 35 : 19 Sts: 86 74 80 78 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 87 81 97 88 IL : 99 99 94 93 KS : 98 96 99 98 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 97 94 100 97 NE : 95 92 100 98 NM : 91 88 71 69 OK : 91 86 94 86 SD : 97 89 100 99 TX : 94 90 97 97 : 12 Sts: 96 92 98 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States planted 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 63 52 67 56 AZ : 30 22 41 47 AR : 87 77 76 69 CA : 40 10 5 34 GA : 42 30 45 42 LA : 97 92 90 86 MS : 93 86 93 79 MO : 94 90 55 63 NM : 13 6 17 22 NC : 15 10 68 44 OK : 60 41 58 29 SC : 41 31 64 45 TN : 89 75 82 65 TX : 40 35 59 42 : 14 Sts: 55 46 60 52 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 98 CO : 39 18 39 38 IL : 71 69 53 54 KS : 74 49 77 69 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 80 69 75 68 NE : 66 37 74 63 NM : 24 14 14 19 OK : 57 39 51 35 SD : 48 29 73 62 TX : 90 87 76 80 : 12 Sts: 77 61 74 70 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Oct 24,:Oct 17,:Oct 24,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 84 80 74 84 FL : 95 87 86 54 GA : 84 74 77 85 NC : 45 41 64 65 OK : 60 39 58 58 SC : 49 38 70 73 TX : 38 27 51 42 VA : 86 75 89 93 : 8 Sts : 69 59 69 70 -------------------------------------- 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 : 13 26 39 20 2 :: NJ : 0 0 50 50 0 AZ : 1 1 13 45 40 :: NM : 5 8 35 45 7 AR : 14 37 34 15 0 :: NY : 0 0 40 60 0 CA : 10 50 25 10 5 :: NC : 2 17 31 47 3 CO : 2 7 27 55 9 :: ND : 0 6 26 60 8 CT : 0 2 38 60 0 :: OH : 15 27 34 22 2 DE : 0 2 35 55 8 :: OK : 6 16 43 34 1 FL : 0 5 40 55 0 :: OR : 7 45 30 18 0 GA : 7 16 46 29 2 :: PA : 6 22 38 29 5 ID : 2 29 42 26 1 :: RI : 0 30 30 40 0 IL : 12 26 42 18 2 :: SC : 4 15 43 36 2 IN : 19 31 40 10 0 :: SD : 2 4 19 53 22 IA : 13 26 32 26 3 :: TN : 29 36 30 5 0 KS : 1 10 38 48 3 :: TX : 27 33 29 10 1 KY : 16 35 36 12 1 :: UT : 3 18 29 46 4 LA : 9 20 42 25 4 :: VT : 3 10 58 29 0 ME : 0 10 10 75 5 :: VA : 4 13 33 41 9 MD : 1 7 17 60 15 :: WA : 16 35 35 13 1 MA : 5 6 73 12 4 :: WV : 7 29 45 15 4 MI : 9 22 35 30 4 :: WI : 2 22 35 39 2 MN : 4 17 36 37 6 :: WY : 0 2 21 65 12 MS : 10 21 35 31 3 :: : MO : 37 34 21 8 0 :: 48 Sts : 11 23 33 29 4 MT : 5 19 42 29 5 :: : NE : 9 17 32 37 5 :: Prev Wk: 12 22 32 30 4 NV : 3 6 20 70 1 :: Prev Yr: 6 17 34 37 6 NH : 0 3 60 37 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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