We 1 (11-99) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 16, 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. 46 November 7 - 13, 1999 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Record warmth dominated the Nation, especially from the northern and central Plains to the upper Midwest, favoring final summer crop harvesting, but further hampering winter wheat establishment. Weekly temperatures averaged 10 to 20 degrees F above normal across the Plains and Midwest, and highs soared to 80 degrees F as far north as western North Dakota and eastern Montana. During the last 6 weeks, dry weather has prevailed throughout most of the Plains, although a late-October storm system provided some moisture to northeastern Texas, southeastern Kansas, and most of Oklahoma. In early November, the same storm temporarily dampened topsoils in portions of the drought-affected Ohio Valley. Elsewhere, significant rain last fell in eastern Nebraska during August and in parts of central and southeastern Texas during July. Exceptions to last week's warm, dry pattern included New England, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 8 degrees F below normal, and from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada westward to the coast, where locally heavy precipitation fell. Early- to midweek showers briefly slowed fieldwork as far south as California's Central Valley. Exceptional late-season warmth resulted in nearly 500 daily-record highs and more than four dozen November records. Since November 1, more than 550 daily records and at least 60 monthly records have been set or tied nationwide. The week featured the latest calendar-date reading on record above 70 degrees F on record in Duluth, MN (71 degrees F on November 9), and at or above 75 degrees F in Eau Claire, WI (76 degrees F on November 8), South Bend, IN (75 degrees F on November 9), and Detroit, MI (75 degrees F on November 9). In Oregon, Astoria (71 degrees F on Thursday), Portland (71 degrees F on Saturday), and Corvallis (73 degrees F on Saturday) all posted their latest temperatures higher than 70 degrees F. With a high of 81 degrees F on November 13, Des Moines, IA notched their latest reading above 80 degrees F. State-record maximum temperatures for the month were observed in Iowa (83 degrees F in Logan on November 8 and in Atlantic, Shenandoah, and Sidney on November 13) and South Dakota (89 degrees F in Kennebec on November 8). In South Dakota on November 8, former monthly records were shattered by 7 degrees F in Huron (86 degrees F) and 6 degrees F in Pierre (87 degrees F). Rawlins, WY (70 degrees F on November 6 and 14) and Minot, ND (79 degrees F on November 7), eclipsed previous November records by 5 degrees F apiece. Rawlins noted 10 daily- or monthly record highs during the 11 days ending November 14, while Glasgow, MT collected eight records--including a monthly record high of 79 degrees F on the 12th--from November 6-14. Persistent dryness accompanied the warmth, causing significant reductions in topsoil moisture nearly nationwide and allowing drought to begin intensifying again across the Ohio Valley. Iowa reported a sixth consecutive week (and 11th in the past 12) with below-normal rainfall. In Texas, Houston remained dry through the first 2 weeks of November, following their driest August-October (2.43 inches) since only 2.33 inches fell in 1924. Houston's January-October rainfall, 24.35 inches (63 percent of normal) was their lowest during the first 10 months of a year since 1988, when 21.26 inches was observed. In contrast, warmth in Oregon and Washington aided winter wheat development following recent rainfall. Soil moisture shortages remained, however, across winter wheat areas in Idaho's Snake River Plain. Closer to the West Coast, early-week showers produced daily-record rainfall totals on November 8 as far south as Bakersfield, CA (0.31 inch) and Los Angeles, CA (0.27 inch). At midweek, additional precipitation overspread northern California, where Redding (1.68 inches on Wednesday) collected a daily-record total. Farther north, Seattle, WA observed a daily-record rainfall (1.52 inches) on Friday, propelling their November 1-13 total to 5.24 inches (226 percent of normal). Meanwhile, unusually cold air streamed into New England. On Friday morning, Bangor, ME (14 degrees F) registered a daily record-tying low. For the fourth consecutive week, bitterly cold air continued to build across much of Alaska, where temperatures averaged as much as 17 degrees F below normal in the interior. Bettles recorded a low of -40 degrees F on November 10. Meanwhile in Hawaii, mostly dry weather returned following recent beneficial showers. National Agricultural Summary November 8 - 14, 1999 Highlights: The end of the harvest season approached with virtually no rain delays. Harvest remained active in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and parts of the southern and central Great Plains, but was nearly complete in the Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and northern Great Plains. Farmers made rapid progress on fall tillage and fertilizer applications, but dry soils limited drilling of wheat and other winter grains, particularly in the southern Great Plains. Record warmth stimulated winter wheat growth where moisture was available, but was detrimental in areas that had moisture shortages. Coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest received additional rainfall, saturating already wet soils. Winter Wheat: Ninety-five percent of the acreage was planted, equal to this time last year and the 5-year average. Planting was complete in the Corn Belt and central and northern Great Plains. In the southern Great Plains, planting was delayed due to severe moisture shortages. Dry weather aided planting progress in California, Arkansas, and North Carolina, although progress remained well behind normal in North Carolina. Eighty-three percent of the acreage was emerged, behind last year's 87 percent and the 5-year average of 88 percent. Dry soils hindered germination and limited vegetative growth in many areas of the Corn Belt, Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Despite excessive dryness, emergence advanced 10 percentage points or more in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Oregon. Emergence lagged far behind normal in Oregon and well behind normal in Texas. Poor stands and slow growth limited livestock grazing in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Conditions significantly deteriorated in Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota due to a combination of severe moisture shortages and record heat. Corn: Harvest was 98 percent complete, more than 1 week ahead of last year's 93 percent and 2 weeks ahead of the 91-percent average for this date. Dry weather provided excellent harvest conditions in the Corn Belt and Great Plains, although very few unharvested fields remained in the Corn Belt. Harvest was active in Colorado, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania. Soybeans: Ninety-seven percent of the soybean crop was harvested, compared with 96 percent last year and more than a week ahead of the 94-percent average for this date. The harvest rapidly progressed in the Southeast, advancing 20 percentage points in Georgia and 13 percentage points in South Carolina. The end of the harvest season approached well ahead of normal in Tennessee and Kentucky. Cotton: The cotton harvest advanced to 77 percent complete, behind last year's 81-percent pace, but slightly ahead of the 76-percent average for this date. Dry weather aided harvest progress, especially in New Mexico, where picking advanced 25 percentage points. Picking was also active in the Southeast, advancing 10 percentage points or more in North and South Carolina and Georgia. Despite the rapid harvest pace, progress remained far behind normal in North Carolina. Harvest also lagged in Arizona. Other Crops: The sorghum crop was 97 percent harvested, 6 percentage points ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Harvest remained active in parts of the Great Plains, especially in New Mexico, where growers combined a fifth of their crop. The end of the harvest season rapidly approached in Oklahoma, Colorado, and South Dakota. The peanut harvest advanced to 92 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year and the average for this date. Digging accelerated in the Atlantic Coastal Plains, advancing more than 20 percentage points in North Carolina. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 86 77 88 79 CA : 35 25 39 32 CO : 100 100 100 100 GA : 22 16 21 23 ID : 99 97 99 99 IL : 99 98 98 99 IN : 100 99 99 99 KS : 100 99 98 99 MI : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 91 85 91 MT : 100 99 100 99 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 43 35 68 63 OH : 100 100 100 100 OK : 97 95 95 98 OR : 90 85 96 94 SD : 100 100 100 100 TX : 87 82 91 92 WA : 100 98 100 98 : 19 Sts: 95 92 95 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 61 47 69 63 CA : 10 6 14 13 CO : 99 98 97 98 GA : 11 9 11 14 ID : 83 77 91 87 IL : 96 85 93 94 IN : 94 88 92 93 KS : 92 91 94 95 MI : 98 92 96 96 MO : 76 66 68 77 MT : 86 86 92 89 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 25 23 48 43 OH : 99 94 100 93 OK : 83 77 84 87 OR : 50 36 88 81 SD : 95 94 100 99 TX : 67 61 78 82 WA : 92 91 99 92 : 19 Sts: 83 79 87 88 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States planted 91% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 94 85 82 88 GA : 100 100 100 100 IL : 99 98 95 93 IN : 100 99 97 88 IA : 100 98 95 94 KS : 100 99 98 98 KY : 100 100 99 95 MI : 94 88 92 72 MN : 98 96 97 95 MO : 99 96 90 89 NE : 98 94 89 91 NC : 98 94 100 100 OH : 96 90 91 78 PA : 78 69 83 74 SD : 95 86 81 89 TX : 100 99 100 100 WI : 96 90 90 80 : 17 Sts: 98 95 93 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 17 States harvested 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 80 75 87 70 AR : 93 86 94 84 GA : 60 40 68 50 IL : 100 99 97 98 IN : 100 100 100 99 IA : 100 100 99 99 KS : 99 96 90 93 KY : 95 90 94 83 LA : 100 100 100 98 MI : 100 97 100 97 MN : 100 99 99 99 MS : 98 97 99 92 MO : 98 96 91 89 NE : 100 100 96 98 NC : 35 30 44 34 OH : 100 98 99 97 SC : 37 24 53 34 SD : 99 98 99 99 TN : 94 87 94 71 : 19 Sts: 97 95 96 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 19 States harvested 93% of last year's soybean acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 89 83 93 82 AZ : 61 53 70 77 AR : 100 98 97 93 CA : 88 80 44 76 GA : 74 64 74 69 LA : 100 100 99 98 MS : 100 99 100 97 MO : 100 98 92 89 NM : 60 35 42 61 NC : 45 35 89 74 OK : 82 78 79 54 SC : 72 61 88 74 TN : 100 98 98 88 TX : 62 56 74 64 : 14 Sts: 77 72 81 76 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 100 99 95 98 FL : 100 99 99 60 GA : 99 96 97 99 NC : 85 64 94 94 OK : 97 89 86 90 SC : 92 78 98 96 TX : 75 67 76 76 VA : 100 97 100 100 : 8 Sts : 92 86 91 90 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States harvested 99% of last year's peanut acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1994- State:Nov 14,:Nov 7, :Nov 14,: 1998 : 1999 : 1999 : 1998 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 84 76 65 69 IL : 99 98 96 91 KS : 99 95 95 93 LA : 100 100 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 100 MO : 98 96 91 89 NE : 99 93 93 94 NM : 69 49 58 63 OK : 93 83 87 74 SD : 95 82 87 91 TX : 96 94 88 92 : 12 Sts: 97 93 91 91 -------------------------------------- 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 1 23 54 22 CA : 0 0 30 50 20 CO : 0 2 13 47 38 GA : 0 3 46 50 1 ID : 0 3 40 54 3 IL : 1 13 48 33 5 IN : 3 7 40 43 7 KS : 3 15 37 42 3 MI : 1 5 31 41 22 MO : 2 11 60 26 1 MT : 1 8 67 23 1 NE : 11 15 33 29 12 NC : 0 5 27 55 13 OH : 0 3 22 60 15 OK : 3 13 37 44 3 OR : 0 46 43 11 0 SD : 1 7 31 53 8 TX : 10 28 43 18 1 WA : 2 16 55 27 0 : 19 Sts : 3 14 38 38 7 : Prev Wk : 4 12 34 43 7 Prev Yr : 1 6 26 54 13 -------------------------------------- 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 23, 1999. 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