We 1 (11-00) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 7, 2000, 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 87, No. 45 October 29 - November 4, 2000 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Heavy rain fell across portions of the South-Central States for the third consecutive week, disrupting winter wheat planting and causing some lowland flooding, but further easing long-term drought and generally benefiting the already planted portion of the wheat crop. The heaviest rain (4 inches or more) fell slightly farther east than during the previous week, affecting primarily central and eastern Texas. Rain reached areas as far east as the western Corn Belt, slowing final corn and soybean harvesting, and the Delta, providing much-needed moisture for pastures and winter grains. Extremely dry weather persisted, however, in the Southeast, hampering winter wheat emergence and increasing the threat of wildfires. Dry weather aided fieldwork operations in the eastern Corn Belt and the Mid-Atlantic region, but cool, showery conditions prevailed across New England. Meanwhile, an early-season snow storm affected easternmost Montana and the western Dakotas, briefly disrupting transportation and stressing livestock. Farther south, showery weather boosted soil moisture reserves in the Rockies and the Southwest. Although cool conditions lingered across California and Arizona, drier weather permitted a gradual return to fieldwork, including cotton harvesting. Weekly temperatures ranged from 3 to 9 degrees F below normal in the Southwest, and averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal in the Northeast. In contrast, weekly readings were up to 12 degrees F above normal in the upper Midwest and as much as 14 degrees F above normal in the interior Southeast. During the first 5 days of November, Texas rainfall totals included 7.06 inches in College Station, 5.48 inches in San Antonio, and 4.58 inches in Waco. San Antonio last netted more November precipitation in 1977, when 6.01 inches fell during the entire month. Farther north, Williston, ND shattered their November precipitation record (previously 2.10 inches in 1896) during the first 2 days of the month. Williston's storm-total precipitation reached 2.36 inches, including 4.6 inches of snow. Much heavier snow, locally 2 to 4 feet or more, blanketed the Black Hills in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. Lead, SD received 31.9 inches on the 1st, their highest 1-day total on record in November. During the storm, northwesterly winds gusted to 62 mph in Rapid City, SD. Heavy snow also fell in northern New England, where early-week totals in Maine reached 10.3 inches in Caribou and 9.0 inches in Bangor. Most (8.4 inches) of Caribou's snow fell on the 29th, representing their second-highest single-day total in October, behind only 9.4 inches on October 29, 1963. Elsewhere in Maine, Portland's high of 36 degrees F on the 29th tied their October 23, 1969, record for the lowest high temperature during October. On the same date in Massachusetts, Worcester's high of 34 degrees F also tied their October record, previously established on October 30, 1925. Burlington, VT received 3.0 inches on October 29-30, marking their snowiest October since 5.1 inches fell in 1969. Farther south, a trace of snow fell in New York City on the 29th, the first October flakes there since 1979. Meanwhile in the northern Plains and western Corn Belt, rain accompanied a late-season severe weather outbreak. On November 1, more than 1 inch of rain soaked LaCrosse, WI for the first time since August 17. On the same day in North Dakota, at least five tornadoes struck near Bismarck. The previous latest date of autumn tornado activity in North Dakota was October 11, 1979. Farther east, Wednesday's high of 80 degrees F in Moline, IL tied their November record set on the 1st in 1933. Across the South, monthly record highs were set or tied on November 1 in locations such as Memphis, TN (86 degrees F) and Muscle Shoals, AL (85 degrees F). Columbus, GA notched three daily-record highs during the week, with highs peaking at 86 degrees F on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Very light rain reached the Southeast at week's end, ending several record-setting dry spells. On Saturday, rainfall totaled 0.01 inch in Raleigh-Durham, NC, 0.16 in Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, and 0.27 inch in Asheville, NC. Record-breaking streaks without measurable precipitation had reached 38 days (September 27 to November 3) in Raleigh-Durham and 39 days (September 26 to November 3) in the other two locations. Farther west, heavy rain returned to eastern Texas after midweek. Consecutive daily-rainfall records were established on November 2-3 in College Station (totaling 6.11 inches) and Lufkin (6.40 inches). In early November, a major storm system produced record-setting rainfall across eastern Hawaii. On the Big Island, Hilo was inundated by 27.24 inches on November 1-2, shattering their 24-hour record of 22.30 inches, set on February 19-20, 1979. Hilo also experienced their wettest November day (16.17 inches on the 1st), edging their 15.41-inch total on November 18, 1990. During the same period, 2 to 4 inches of rain fell on parts of Oahu, while locally more than 8 inches soaked portions of Maui. Meanwhile in Alaska, mild weather (up to 9 degrees F above normal) prevailed in western areas, while wet conditions continued across the south. Cool weather lingered, however, in eastern Alaska, where weekly temperatures averaged as much as 2 degrees F below normal. National Agricultural Summary October 30 - November 5, 2000 Highlights: Dry weather aided harvest progress in the Corn Belt, Southeast, and Northeast. In the Great Plains, heavy rain and muddy fields limited seeding of winter grains. However, soil moisture supplies significantly increased, aiding rapid emergence of the Nation's winter wheat crop. Emergence and growth were also stimulated by above-normal temperatures that prevailed in the Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, Corn Belt, and Southeast. In California, fieldwork continued with brief rain delays, while winter crops rapidly emerged, despite cooler-than-normal temperatures. Winter wheat: Eighty-five percent of the crop was planted and 72 percent was emerged, compared with the averages of 93 percent planted and 81 percent emerged. Planting was limited by rain and muddy fields in the Great Plains, but continued with few delays in the Corn Belt, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Seeding advanced 17 percentage points in Arkansas and 9 percentage points in Missouri. In Texas, growers planted 8 percent of the acreage, where conditions permitted. North Carolina growers planted 7 percent of their crop. Seeding was virtually complete in the Pacific Northwest. Increased moisture supplies and above-normal temperatures germinated seeds and accelerated emergence in the Great Plains. Nearly 20 percent of the acreage emerged in Texas, and 17 percent emerged in Kansas. However, emergence remained behind the 5-year average in both States. Emergence also remained well behind normal in Oklahoma. In South Dakota, only 65 percent was emerged, compared with the average of 96 percent. Warm weather and mostly adequate moisture supplies provided ideal conditions for emergence in the Corn Belt, especially in Illinois, where 29 percent emerged during the week. Fields emerged ahead of normal in Missouri. Emergence was well ahead of normal in California and the Pacific Northwest. Corn: Harvest advanced to 92 percent complete, slightly behind last year's 94-percent pace, but more than 1 week ahead of the 83-percent average for this date. Progress fell behind last year's pace due to increasing shortages of storage space in some areas. Harvest progressed with few rain delays in the eastern Corn Belt, especially in Michigan and Ohio, where growers harvested 24 and 21 percent, respectively, during the week. Dry weather also aided rapid progress in Colorado and Pennsylvania. Rain limited harvest in the western Corn Belt, although very little remained to be harvested in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. Soybeans: Harvest was 95 percent complete, slightly behind last year's pace, but ahead of the 92-percent average for this date. Harvest rapidly progressed in Michigan, but very little acreage remained to be harvested in the rest of the Corn Belt. Harvest remained active in Arkansas, despite brief rain delays. Dry weather aided harvest progress along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Cotton: Seventy-three percent of the crop was picked, about 1 week ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Dry weather aided picking in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and Southwest, while rain hampered progress in the southern Great Plains and interior Mississippi Delta. North Carolina and California growers picked 17 and 15 percent of their acreage, respectively. In Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, about 10 percent of the crop was picked during the week. Rain and saturated fields limited progress in Oklahoma and Texas to 1 and 3 percent, respectively. Other Crops: Ninety-four percent of the sorghum crop was harvested, more than 1 week ahead of last year's progress and about 3 weeks ahead of the average for this date. Harvest was active on the High Plains, advancing 15 and 11 percentage points in Colorado and New Mexico, respectively. Oklahoma and Texas growers made little harvest progress due to saturated soils. The sugar beet crop was 92 percent harvested in the major sugar beet-producing States. Michigan growers dug more than one-fourth of their beets during the week. The peanut crop was 85 percent dug, slightly behind last year's pace. Wet weather continued to hamper harvest progress in the southern Great Plains, especially in Oklahoma, where just 1 percent of the acreage was lifted during the week. Dry weather aided progress in the Southeast. North Carolina growers were well ahead of normal. The sunflower harvest was 86 percent complete. Harvest was most active in Colorado, where growers harvested about one-fifth of their crop during the week. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 91 79 80 79 IL : 98 94 97 89 IN : 92 78 98 79 IA : 98 96 97 86 KS : 100 100 98 95 KY : 97 94 100 94 MI : 60 36 85 60 MN : 96 93 95 89 MO : 98 96 95 86 NE : 95 94 92 80 NC : 98 96 93 97 ND : 85 78 89 86 OH : 73 52 87 67 PA : 56 45 65 61 SD : 87 78 81 76 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 99 99 99 WI : 75 64 88 68 : 18 Sts: 92 87 94 83 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 74 57 72 67 CA : 35 30 23 20 CO : 100 99 100 100 ID : 98 97 96 97 IL : 95 90 97 96 IN : 98 91 98 96 KS : 92 86 99 98 MI : 100 97 99 99 MO : 89 80 88 84 MT : 94 92 99 100 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 41 34 34 44 OH : 98 92 99 98 OK : 63 61 94 95 OR : 100 96 81 89 SD : 98 93 100 100 TX : 78 70 81 88 WA : 100 100 97 98 : 18 Sts: 85 81 92 93 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 85 73 83 76 IL : 98 95 99 96 IN : 97 92 99 95 IA : 99 99 100 99 KS : 97 96 95 90 KY : 85 77 89 74 LA : 100 99 99 96 MI : 88 72 96 92 MN : 100 100 99 98 MS : 97 94 96 91 MO : 93 88 94 85 NE : 99 97 100 97 NC : 31 20 28 24 ND : 100 100 99 97 OH : 93 86 97 93 SD : 99 97 98 95 TN : 80 72 84 65 WI : 99 94 99 95 : 18 Sts: 95 91 96 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 42 27 42 43 CA : 25 20 5 6 CO : 97 91 97 96 ID : 82 77 72 78 IL : 82 53 81 81 IN : 80 67 84 81 KS : 81 64 90 91 MI : 86 71 89 89 MO : 71 57 61 61 MT : 70 55 84 85 NE : 99 96 99 100 NC : 22 20 21 24 OH : 85 69 91 86 OK : 56 46 75 77 OR : 81 73 33 64 SD : 65 60 94 96 TX : 53 34 59 73 WA : 99 98 90 94 : 18 Sts: 72 59 78 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 88 80 81 78 AZ : 65 55 50 59 AR : 97 94 97 89 CA : 75 60 74 59 GA : 70 59 62 64 LA : 100 100 100 99 MS : 99 97 98 96 MO : 97 95 97 83 NC : 60 43 32 56 OK : 63 62 74 45 SC : 66 55 58 62 TN : 98 96 97 86 TX : 57 54 53 53 VA : 42 31 37 53 : 14 Sts: 73 67 68 67 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 99 100 100 CO : 75 60 72 60 IL : 98 92 97 83 KS : 98 97 93 87 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 96 94 94 86 NE : 98 96 91 85 NM : 57 46 48 42 OK : 75 74 80 60 SD : 95 89 78 83 TX : 93 92 93 88 : 11 Sts: 94 92 91 85 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 98% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 92 83 98 95 FL : 95 94 98 NA GA : 94 88 95 96 NC : 97 90 60 81 OK : 83 82 87 82 TX : 52 48 62 64 VA : 100 100 96 98 : 7 Sts : 85 80 86 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 98% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 73 67 93 90 MI : 83 56 NA NA MN : 100 100 99 99 ND : 100 100 100 100 : 4 Sts : 92 86 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 73% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1995- State:Nov 5, :Oct 29,:Nov 5, : 1999 : 2000 : 2000 : 1999 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 79 60 NA NA KS : 93 88 94 NA ND : 83 79 83 88 SD : 92 91 85 88 : 4 Sts : 86 82 NA NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 90% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 5 45 40 10 CA : 0 0 10 80 10 CO : 0 5 32 41 22 ID : 0 0 7 89 4 IL : 0 3 21 64 12 IN : 0 2 25 60 13 KS : 2 8 39 45 6 MI : 2 3 30 60 5 MO : 0 10 40 45 5 MT : 0 14 51 35 0 NE : 0 5 40 50 5 NC : 4 11 26 45 14 OH : 0 1 18 59 22 OK : 4 8 30 52 6 OR : 0 4 11 85 0 SD : 5 16 45 31 3 TX : 1 12 48 36 3 WA : 0 0 38 61 1 : 18 Sts : 2 8 36 47 7 : Prev Wk : NA NA NA NA NA Prev Yr : 4 12 34 43 7 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 1999 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released after 12:00 p.m. on November 14, 2000. 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