We 1 (4-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 17, 2001, 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 88, No. 16 April 8 - 14, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: For the second time in less than a week, a major spring storm system brought heavy rain (locally 2 inches or more) to already flooded lowlands from the eastern Dakotas to the upper Mississippi Valley. In contrast, beneficial showers and thunderstorms dampened the previously dry Ohio Valley, where warm weather (10 to 18 degrees F above normal) and soil moisture improvements promoted rapid winter wheat development. Locally heavy showers also fell in parts of the interior South, but warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in much of Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and in the Southeast, aiding the planting and emergence of corn, sorghum, cotton, rice, and other summer crops. In southern Florida, however, warm, dry conditions resulted in renewed drought intensification and increasing irrigation demands. Unsettled weather, featuring large thunderstorm outbreaks on April 10-11 and 14, dominated the Plains. For the week, rainfall totaled 2 inches or more in several locations from eastern Nebraska southward to the Oklahoma-Texas border. For most of the week, warm weather aided development of the troubled winter wheat crop on the southern Plains, while cool, damp conditions slowed wheat growth on the northern Plains. Blizzard conditions briefly engulfed the central High Plains at midweek. Meanwhile in the West, where weekly temperatures ranged from 5 to 10 degrees F below normal, cold weather continued to slow crop development and adversely affect some fruits (blooming trees and vines) and recently planted summer crops as far south as California. Scattered showers in key watershed areas of the Northwest provided only small increases in meager mountain snowpacks. Sharply contrasting temperatures resulted in more than 100 daily-record highs in the East and at least 40 daily-record lows in the West. On Monday, highs soared above 90 degrees F as far north as eastern Virginia, where Richmond noted 92 degrees F. New Orleans, LA, closed the week with three consecutive record highs (86, 87, and 87 degrees F). In Florida, widespread 90 degrees F heat returned by Saturday, when highs climbed to 91 degrees F in Orlando and Lakeland. Jacksonville, FL, ended the week with consecutive record highs (92 and 90 degrees F). By April 15, the average surface elevation of southern Florida's Lake Okeechobee fell to 9.97 feet, down 0.23 foot from March 16 and just 0.22 foot above the July 1981 record low. On April 8 in California, temperatures in the northern Sacramento Valley fell to 30 degrees F in Redding and Red Bluff. Farther south, Santa Maria (32 degrees F) posted a daily-record low, while Ventura (35 degrees F) notched an April-record low. A day later in Oregon, daily-record lows included 7 degrees F in Austin, 10 degrees F in Redmond, and 28 degrees F in Pendleton. In eastern Nevada, Ely (8 degrees F) registered a daily-record low on Thursday. Showery, unsettled weather prevailed in the Northwest and Intermountain West through midweek, when a powerful storm system emerged onto the central Plains. Salt Lake City, UT, netted 5.7 inches of snow on Monday and 3.7 inches on Thursday, helping to boost their month-to-date total to 9.9 inches. Similarly, snowfall in Flagstaff, AZ, reached 13.9 inches during the first half of April. On Tuesday, daily-record precipitation totals in the Northwest included 0.44 inch in Pendleton, OR, and 0.43 inch in Wenatchee, WA. On April 11, heavy snow and high winds hammered the central High Plains. The responsible storm, which packed a minimum central pressure near 976 millibars (about 28.82 inches of mercury) near the Kansas-Colorado border, raised month-to-date snowfall to 8.1 inches in Colorado Springs, CO, and 10.5 inches in Cheyenne, WY. Peak wind gusts were clocked to 70 mph in Akron, CO, and 66 mph in Wichita, KS. As the storm tracked northeastward and slowly weakened, gusts on April 12 reached 61 mph in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and 58 mph in Toledo, OH. The storm also produced heavy rain and severe weather across the eastern Plains, Corn Belt, and interior South. On Wednesday in Minnesota, Rochester's 3.75-inch rainfall represented their second-highest 1-day April total behind 3.81 inches on April 23, 1990. Rochester's month-to-date total reached 5.42 inches (427 percent of normal). Elsewhere in the upper Midwest, April 1-15 precipitation reached 4.09 inches in Huron, SD, 3.42 inches in Duluth, MN, and 2.11 inches in Fargo, ND. Dozens of strong thunderstorms preceded and accompanied the storm's passage. On April 9, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) logged more than 250 reports of large hail from the middle Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic region. A day later, strong winds and large hail were reported throughout the Plains from Nebraska southward. SPC noted more than three dozen tornadoes on April 11, mostly from 19 Iowa counties southward into eastern Oklahoma. On some Red River tributaries, crests were the second-highest on record and the highest since the spring of 1997 in locations such as the Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, ND (15.2 feet above flood stage on April 9), and the Sheyenne River at Harwood, ND (7.3 feet above flood stage on April 10). The Red River at Wahpeton, ND, crested 6.97 feet above flood stage on April 9, just 2.45 feet shy of the April 1997 high-water mark. In eastern South Dakota, the James River crested less than 2 feet below the 1997 record crests in Columbia (4.78 feet above flood stage on April 12) and Forestburg (6.74 feet above flood stage on April 10). Meanwhile, most gauging points on the upper Mississippi River and several tributaries continued to rise or neared crest at week's end. For example, the Mississippi River at Wabasha, MN, appeared to be near crest on April 16, more than 6 feet above flood stage and less than 2 feet below the April 19, 1965, record level. Near-normal temperatures prevailed in southern and western Alaska, while mild weather (6 to 14 degrees F above normal) continued across interior and northern parts of the State. Temperatures climbed above 50 degrees F as far north as Fairbanks, where the high reached 51 degrees F on April 11. Meanwhile, locally heavy showers overspread Hawaii from April 9-13. Some of the heaviest rain fell in windward sections of the Big Island on April 10-11, when 24-hour totals reached 3.82 inches in Glenwood and 3.06 inches in Mountain View. National Agricultural Summary April 9 - 15, 2001 Highlights: Above-normal temperatures stimulated growth of winter grains in most areas east of the Rocky Mountains, while cooler-than-normal temperatures limited crop development along the Pacific Coast and on the northern High Plains. A winter storm that produced cold weather and several inches of snow briefly halted winter wheat growth in the central Great Plains. Dry weather reduced moisture surpluses in the southern Great Plains. Heavy rainfall produced localized flooding and limited fieldwork in the northern Great Plains and Corn Belt. Warm, dry weather accelerated crop development and fieldwork in the Southeast and along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Winter Wheat: Five percent of the Nation's winter wheat was heading, about 1 week behind last year's pace, but only a few days behind the 5-year average. In California, acreage heading doubled to 50 percent, but remained well behind the 66-percent average. Heat accelerated heading progress in Texas, where crop development continued slightly ahead of average. Wheat fields in Kansas and Oklahoma produced good growth, but acreage at or beyond the jointing stage remained well off the normal pace. Above-normal temperatures boosted development on the Atlantic Coastal Plains and improved crop conditions in the Corn Belt and parts of the Great Plains. Wheat conditions in the southern Great Plains also benefited from favorably drier weather, although strong winds damaged some stands. Corn: Planting advanced to 5 percent complete, behind last year's 9-percent progress, but equal to the 5-year average for this date. Heavy rain prevented planting in the western Corn Belt and limited progress in parts of the eastern Corn Belt. However, planting rapidly accelerated along the Ohio River Valley, where a pocket of dry weather aided progress. Planting progress was near normal in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In Kentucky and Tennessee, planting progressed ahead of normal, as growers planted about one-fifth of their acreage during the week. Dry weather also aided rapid progress on the Atlantic Coastal Plains, where North Carolina producers planted 30 percent of their corn crop during the week. The planting pace accelerated in Texas, as warm, dry weather quickly reduced excessive soil moisture. However, planting remained well behind the 5-year average. Cotton: Planting was 9 percent complete, slightly behind last year's pace, but equal to the 5-year average. Dry weather aided progress in the Southwest, although some growers delayed planting due to abnormally cold weather. In Arizona, growers planted 12 percent of their crop, while California producers planted just 5 percent of their acreage. Field preparations gradually accelerated in the southern Great Plains, and planting progressed with few delays in central and southern Texas. Planting accelerated in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast early in the week, but rain halted progress in most areas after midweek. Despite rain delays, progress remained ahead of normal in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Small grains: Four percent of the spring wheat acreage was seeded, well behind last year's rapid progress of 17 percent, and less than half the normal progress of 9 percent. Barley seeding, at 10 percent complete, was 1 week behind last year's pace, but just 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Planting of both crops was active in Idaho and Washington, where producers encountered few rain delays. However, progress remained behind normal in both States. Wet weather postponed the beginning of the planting season in Minnesota and North Dakota. In South Dakota, a few spring wheat fields were seeded, but soggy soils prevented progress in most areas of the State. Oat seeding was 4 percent complete, far behind last year's 40-percent pace, and 2 weeks behind the 5-year average. Seeding progressed at a normal pace in Ohio, but rain-soaked fields prevented planting across most of the Corn Belt. A few acres were sown in Iowa and Nebraska, but progress lagged far behind the 5-year average in both States. In the upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains, the beginning of the planting season was postponed by wet conditions. Other crops: Thirty-one percent of the rice crop was planted, ahead of last year and the average of 23 and 22 percent, respectively. Thirteen percent was emerged, compared with 14 percent last year and 10 percent normally emerged by this date. Dry weather aided progress along the western Gulf Coast, while rain limited progress in interior areas of the Mississippi Delta. Despite rain delays, progress remained well ahead of normal in Arkansas and Mississippi. Above-normal temperatures promoted rapid emergence and stimulated growth. Thirteen percent of the sorghum acreage was planted, 2 percentage points behind last year and the average for this date. Planting was most active in the lower Mississippi Valley, especially in Arkansas, where producers planted more than one-fourth of their acreage even though midweek thunderstorms chased a few growers out of the fields. Fifteen percent of the sugarbeet acreage was planted in the four major sugarbeet-producing States, behind last year's 22-percent progress, but slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Dry weather aided rapid progress in Michigan and Idaho. Corn: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 1 0 1 2 IL : 5 1 12 5 IN : 3 1 4 2 IA : 0 0 2 1 KS : 11 2 18 9 KY : 24 5 26 16 MI : 0 0 0 0 MN : 0 0 2 1 MO : 13 5 49 22 NE : 0 0 3 1 NC : 40 10 36 37 ND : 0 0 0 0 OH : 3 1 2 3 PA : 0 0 2 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TN : 37 15 34 33 TX : 42 37 60 55 WI : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 5 2 9 5 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Headed, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 7 1 46 29 CA : 50 25 79 66 CO : 0 0 0 0 ID : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 IN : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 MI : 0 0 0 0 MO : 1 0 1 0 MT : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NC : 13 3 37 18 OH : 0 0 0 0 OK : 4 0 25 11 OR : 0 0 0 0 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 24 13 35 20 WA : 0 0 0 0 : 18 Sts: 5 2 12 7 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 7 0 5 10 AZ : 36 24 37 36 AR : 1 0 0 0 CA : 30 25 61 33 GA : 2 1 4 4 LA : 6 0 1 2 MS : 5 1 0 1 MO : 0 0 0 0 NC : 0 0 2 3 OK : 0 0 0 0 SC : 2 1 7 4 TN : 0 0 0 1 TX : 12 11 13 11 VA : 0 0 0 1 : 14 Sts: 9 7 11 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 38 12 12 16 CO : 0 0 0 0 IL : 0 0 0 0 KS : 0 0 0 0 LA : 15 1 11 13 MO : 0 0 0 0 NE : 0 0 0 0 NM : 0 0 0 0 OK : 4 0 3 1 SD : 0 0 0 0 TX : 35 33 42 42 : 11 Sts: 13 11 15 15 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Spring Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 30 18 54 45 MN : 0 0 12 3 MT : 4 2 11 8 ND : 0 0 4 1 SD : 2 1 60 23 WA : 52 39 64 54 : 6 Sts : 4 3 17 9 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 6 States planted 98% of last year's spring wheat acreage. Barley: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 28 18 43 30 MN : 0 0 13 3 MT : 7 4 14 9 ND : 0 0 2 0 WA : 30 19 48 41 : 5 Sts : 10 6 17 12 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 80% of last year's barley acreage. Oats: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : IA : 4 1 88 52 MN : 0 0 35 11 NE : 20 10 90 56 ND : 0 0 3 1 OH : 45 37 51 46 PA : 8 4 27 30 SD : 0 0 48 20 WI : 0 0 45 16 : 8 Sts : 4 3 40 21 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 8 States planted 37% of last year's oat acreage. Rice: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 26 6 9 12 CA : 0 0 4 1 LA : 67 50 78 64 MS : 32 14 3 23 TX : 66 49 67 50 : 5 Sts : 31 16 23 22 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 94% of last year's rice acreage. Rice: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 NA 0 1 CA : 0 NA 0 0 LA : 48 NA 60 45 MS : 12 NA 0 0 TX : 40 NA 51 30 : 5 Sts : 13 NA 14 10 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States planted 94% of last year's rice acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Apr 15,:Apr 8, :Apr 15,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 36 24 78 58 MI : 52 15 43 9 MN : 0 0 2 1 ND : 0 0 0 0 : 4 Sts : 15 7 22 13 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States planted 73% of last year's sugarbeet acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 1 9 38 46 6 CA : 0 0 10 50 40 CO : 1 7 24 59 9 ID : 0 0 8 80 12 IL : 1 6 24 58 11 IN : 0 3 18 65 14 KS : 12 23 37 26 2 MI : 1 4 20 55 20 MO : 1 6 29 53 11 MT : 3 9 57 27 4 NE : 1 10 35 47 7 NC : 0 3 27 64 6 OH : 1 4 21 57 17 OK : 14 22 36 25 3 OR : 3 11 34 44 8 SD : 7 23 35 32 3 TX : 4 11 48 30 7 WA : 0 2 27 66 5 : 18 Sts : 6 14 35 39 6 : Prev Wk : 6 16 35 38 5 Prev Yr : 6 8 24 50 12 -------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2000 planted acres. The next "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" report will be released at 12 p.m. ET on April 24, 2001. 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