We 1 (11-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 9, 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. 45 October 31 - November 6, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Very warm, dry weather further reduced topsoil moisture for winter wheat establishment on the Plains, especially from Nebraska southward to Texas' Northern Panhandle. Weekly temperatures averaged up to 8 degrees F above normal from the northern Plains into the Northeast, aiding final summer crop harvesting operations. Similarly, temperatures ranged from 2 to 10 degrees F above normal in the Southwest, promoting cotton harvesting and winter wheat planting. In contrast, very cool weather (as much as 6 degrees F below normal) and near- to below-freezing temperatures burned back pastures and emerging winter grains from eastern Texas to the southern Atlantic Coast. Early-week rainfall favored winter wheat establishment in the drought-affected Ohio Valley, although soil moisture remained limited from Indiana westward. Across the Southeast, early-week rainfall benefited fall-sown crops but slowed fieldwork. Beneficial showers diminished across the Northwest, but cool weather slowed winter wheat development in Washington and northern Oregon. Additional moisture is needed across the Snake River Plain. A brief, midweek cool snap interrupted an otherwise very warm pattern across the Central and Western States. More than 30 daily-record highs were set or tied on October 31, followed by more than six dozen daily records and at least nine monthly record highs from November 4-6. An additional 60 daily records and more than a dozen monthly record highs were established across the northern Plains and the West on Sunday, November 7. The final day of October featured highs above 80 degrees F as far north as southeastern Montana, where Miles City noted 82 degrees F. A day later, very warm conditions persisted across southern California, where Simi Valley registered a daily-record high of 99 degrees F. By Thursday, monthly record warmth appeared on the northern Plains, where Rapid City (79 degrees F) tied their 105-year-old November standard. On Friday, several locations in Wyoming, including Rawlins (65, 70, and 69 degrees F) and Casper (70, 72, and 72 degrees F) tallied their first of three consecutive daily-record highs. Previous November records had been 64 degrees F (on November 5, 1975) in Rawlins and 71 degrees F (on November 1, 1965) in Casper. In Idaho on November 6, former monthly records were eclipsed by 4 degrees F in Pocatello (75 degrees F) and Boise (78 degrees F). As the week began, an energetic storm system lifted northeastward from the western Gulf Coast region. Locally heavy rain arrived in the Southeast at the end of October, then spread northeastward thereafter, providing welcomed moisture to the middle Ohio Valley and the Appalachians. On October 31, Little Rock, AR (2.00 inches) and Jackson, MS (3.55 inches) collected daily-record totals. Little Rock's October rainfall, 4.04 inches (112 percent of normal), exceeded their July-September sum of 2.45 inches (23 percent). Despite Jackson's above-normal October total (5.74 inches, 176 percent of normal), their year-to-date total of 38.60 inches was 6.05 inches below normal. On Tuesday, daily-record totals were noted in locations such as Pittsburgh, PA (1.72 inches) and Lexington, KY (1.09 inches). Cool weather blanketed the South in the storm's wake, resulting in sub-freezing temperatures as far south as Houston, TX (30 degrees F on Wednesday) and Cross City, FL (30 degrees F on Thursday). By week's end, however, much warmer air overspread the region, aiding the development of pastures and fall-sown crops after the widespread frosts and freezes. The cold weather did not adversely affect southern Louisiana's sugarcane, as only scattered frost was reported on November 3-4. Meanwhile, very cold conditions persisted for a third consecutive week in Alaska, where temperatures averaged as much as 14 degrees F below normal in interior sections. In the Aleutians, Cold Bay collected a monthly record low of 6 degrees F on October 31. National Agricultural Summary November 1 - 7, 1999 Highlights: Dry weather prevailed over most of the Nation, providing excellent conditions for harvesting row crops, seeding winter grains, and completing fall tillage and fertilizer applications. Row crop harvesting was virtually complete in Missouri, the earliest completed since 1987. Increasing moisture shortages hindered winter wheat germination and growth in the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest, although above-normal temperatures stimulated growth where adequate moisture was available. Heavy rainfall recharged soil moisture levels in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, southern Appalachians and Piedmont, and upper Ohio Valley. The harvest pace accelerated in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, where favorably dry weather prevailed throughout the week. Winter Wheat: Planting progressed to 92 percent complete, equal to last year's pace, but slightly behind the 5-year average. Dry weather aided rapid planting progress in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oregon. In Texas, planting slowly progressed, as many growers delayed planting due to severe moisture shortages. The planting pace was also slow in North Carolina, where sowing was delayed due to the late harvest season. Seventy-nine percent of the acreage was emerged, slightly behind last year's 82 percent and the 5-year average of 83 percent. Increasing moisture shortages delayed germination and hindered plant growth in many areas of the Great Plains, eastern Corn Belt, and interior areas of the Pacific Northwest. Where moisture was adequate, temperatures averaging well above normal stimulated seed germination and plant development. Soft red winter wheat rapidly emerged in the eastern Corn Belt, advancing more than 10 percentage points in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. Recent scattered rainfall aided germination in the Pacific Northwest and lower Mississippi Valley, but emergence remained far behind the 5-year average in Oregon. Emergence was also well behind normal in Texas due to moisture shortages. Corn: The Nation's corn harvest advanced to 95 percent complete, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and nearly 2 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest slowed in the Corn Belt, as progress neared completion in most areas. Dry weather aided rapid progress in the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and mid-Atlantic Coast, advancing nearly 20 percentage points in Colorado and South Dakota, and more than 10 percentage points in Michigan and South Dakota. The end of the harvest season approached far ahead of normal in the eastern Corn Belt, and well ahead of normal in the western Corn Belt. Harvest progress was more than 30 percentage points ahead of normal in Michigan, and more than 20 percentage points ahead of normal in Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Soybeans: Ninety-five percent of the soybean crop was harvested, compared with 93 percent last year, and the 91-percent average for this date. The harvest pace slowed dramatically in the Corn Belt, where most of the acreage was harvested. Harvest activity remained brisk in the Mississippi Delta, where warm weather quickly ripened double-cropped and other late-planted fields. Progress was well ahead of normal in the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi River Valleys. In the Atlantic Coastal Plains, harvest gradually gained momentum, advancing more than 10 percentage points in Georgia. Cotton: The cotton harvest was 72 percent complete, behind last year's 76-percent pace, but slightly ahead of the 70 percent average for this date. icking was active in the southern Great Plains, Southwest, and Atlantic Coastal Plains, but remained far behind normal in North Carolina and well behind normal in New Mexico and Arizona. Progress was more than 30 percentage points ahead of normal in Oklahoma and 15 percentage points ahead of normal in California. In Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, picking rapidly neared completion. Other Crops: The sorghum crop was 93 percent harvested, ahead of last year's 88-percent pace and the normal progress of 87 percent. Harvest steadily progressed in the Great Plains, well ahead of normal in Colorado and Oklahoma, but slightly behind normal in South Dakota. The peanut harvest advanced to 86 percent complete, slightly behind last year, but equal to the average for this date. Harvest was active in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, but lagged well behind normal in North and South Carolina. Digging also rapidly advanced in Texas. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 77 60 76 70 CA : 25 18 29 21 CO : 100 100 100 100 GA : 16 10 15 16 ID : 97 95 98 98 IL : 98 94 96 97 IN : 99 94 96 97 KS : 99 98 97 98 MI : 100 96 99 99 MO : 91 81 74 85 MT : 99 98 100 99 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 35 30 54 51 OH : 100 97 100 98 OK : 95 93 92 96 OR : 85 71 91 91 SD : 100 99 100 100 TX : 82 77 87 89 WA : 98 95 100 98 : 19 Sts: 92 89 92 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 85 66 77 82 GA : 100 100 100 99 IL : 98 94 91 89 IN : 99 94 91 78 IA : 98 95 91 87 KS : 99 94 97 96 KY : 100 99 97 93 MI : 88 76 81 56 MN : 96 91 95 89 MO : 96 91 87 85 NE : 94 87 86 83 NC : 94 90 100 98 OH : 90 81 83 66 PA : 69 55 69 62 SD : 86 68 76 77 TX : 99 98 100 99 WI : 90 84 84 68 : 17 Sts: 95 89 89 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 47 31 48 49 CA : 6 4 8 7 CO : 98 96 96 97 GA : 9 6 8 9 ID : 77 61 84 79 IL : 85 71 82 86 IN : 88 75 86 85 KS : 91 87 89 92 MI : 92 80 91 91 MO : 66 48 53 67 MT : 86 80 87 85 NE : 100 98 100 100 NC : 23 17 33 30 OH : 94 84 97 87 OK : 77 69 76 81 OR : 36 26 78 71 SD : 94 93 100 98 TX : 61 55 73 78 WA : 91 87 99 90 : 19 Sts: 79 73 82 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 75 66 83 62 AR : 86 76 87 77 GA : 40 29 50 36 IL : 99 98 95 96 IN : 100 98 97 96 IA : 100 100 99 99 KS : 96 91 88 89 KY : 90 87 93 74 LA : 100 98 100 94 MI : 97 94 97 93 MN : 99 98 98 98 MS : 97 94 98 88 MO : 96 89 86 85 NE : 100 99 95 97 NC : 30 22 38 25 OH : 98 95 99 95 SC : 24 16 37 23 SD : 98 97 95 96 TN : 87 75 88 62 : 19 Sts: 95 93 93 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 83 77 89 75 AZ : 53 42 62 68 AR : 98 94 94 88 CA : 80 60 32 65 GA : 64 57 64 62 LA : 100 99 99 97 MS : 99 97 99 93 MO : 98 96 85 84 NM : 35 20 33 50 NC : 35 24 84 64 OK : 78 64 76 46 SC : 61 51 81 64 TN : 98 96 95 83 TX : 56 46 70 57 : 14 Sts: 72 64 76 70 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 99 96 91 96 FL : 99 97 97 59 GA : 96 92 93 97 NC : 64 50 89 89 OK : 89 82 77 83 SC : 78 62 95 92 TX : 67 51 70 66 VA : 97 95 99 99 : 8 Sts : 86 79 87 86 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 7, :Oct 31,:Nov 7, : 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 76 63 60 62 IL : 98 94 86 83 KS : 95 88 93 89 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 89 88 85 NE : 93 87 89 88 NM : 49 44 44 48 OK : 83 72 81 59 SD : 82 69 86 86 TX : 94 92 84 89 : 12 Sts: 93 88 88 87 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 12 States harvested 99% of last year's sorghum acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 2 21 59 18 CA : 0 0 30 50 20 CO : 0 1 10 51 38 GA : 0 3 44 51 2 ID : 0 5 45 48 2 IL : 1 8 44 42 5 IN : 6 8 30 49 7 KS : 3 9 35 48 5 MI : 0 3 29 47 21 MO : 2 11 60 26 1 MT : 2 13 30 52 3 NE : 7 9 28 49 7 NC : 0 9 31 50 10 OH : 0 2 23 58 17 OK : 6 15 34 43 2 OR : 0 50 40 10 0 SD : 0 3 17 68 12 TX : 13 30 39 15 3 WA : 0 9 60 31 0 : 19 Sts : 4 12 34 43 7 : Prev Wk : 4 11 35 43 7 Prev Yr : 1 6 27 55 11 -------------------------------------- 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" report will be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on November 16, 1999. 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