We 1 (11-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released November 20, 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. 47 November 11 - 17, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: A slow-moving storm system, cut-off from the polar jet stream, generated drought-easing rainfall and aided winter wheat establishment across eastern New Mexico, western and southern Texas, and southwestern Oklahoma. However, heavy rainfall, locally in excess of 8 inches, caused locally severe flash flooding in parts of central and southern Texas. Light rain fell as far north as southern Kansas, but warm, dry, breezy weather continued to hamper winter wheat growth across the remainder of the northern and central Plains, where weekly temperatures ranged from 10 to 20 degrees F above normal. Warm, mostly dry weather also prevailed in the Corn Belt, promoting winter wheat development and final summer crop harvesting. Scattered showers were confined to the Great Lakes region around midweek. In the western Corn Belt, weekly temperatures averaged up to 20 degrees F above normal, capping the warmest first half of November on record in several locations. Meanwhile in the South (east of Texas) and East, significant precipitation (locally in excess of 4 inches) was confined to northeastern Florida. Elsewhere, mild, dry, often breezy conditions favored fieldwork but stressed winter wheat and fostered the spread of wildfires. Farther west, an early-week storm system produced widespread showers as far south as southern California. Mostly dry weather returned to California by midweek, while heavy precipitation spread across the Pacific Northwest. Across the Interior Northwest, light rain continued to benefit winter wheat, despite lingering subsoil moisture and reservoir shortages. The first half of November was the warmest on record in several Midwestern locations, including Austin, MN (12.7 degrees F above normal), and Rochester, MN (13.5 degrees F above normal). Rochester achieved a high of at least 50 degrees F on each of the first 18 days of the month, breaking their November record of 16 days set in 1963 and 1999. Meanwhile, LaCrosse, WI, measured 4 days of 70 degrees F warmth, shattering their November record of 3 days set in 1953, 1991, and 1999. In addition, Minneapolis, MN, noted at least 22 consecutive days (October 28 - November 18) with above-normal temperatures, remaining warmer than normal even when cooler air arrived at week's end. Coast-to-coast warmth resulted in approximately 100 daily-record highs, many of them from the Pacific Northwest to the upper Midwest. Record warmth also reached the Northeast, although briefly, on Friday. On November 14, the high of 69 degrees F in Jamestown, ND, was 31 degrees F above normal. A day later in Nebraska, highs soared to 78 degrees F in Norfolk and 76 degrees F in Lincoln, while Marquette, MI (65 degrees F), notched their latest autumn high temperature at or above 65 degrees F (previously 66 degrees F on November 13, 1999). Record highs of 76 degrees F were noted on November 16 in several locations, including Huron, SD, Des Moines, IA, Springfield, IL, and Washington, DC. The warmth in the East replaced an early-week chill that brought a pair of daily-record lows (20 and 22 degrees F) to Atlantic City, NJ, on November 12-13. Early-week rainfall was widespread and occasionally heavy across California, resulting in daily-record totals on November 12 in locations such as Kentfield (2.70 inches) and Fresno (1.05 inches). Although dry weather returned to California, rain intensified across the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, when daily-record totals included 3.64 inches in Olympia, WA, and 2.62 inches in Astoria, OR. Farther east, heavy showers erupted across the southern High Plains on November 14 and expanded into central and southern Texas a day later. With 7.75 inches on November 15, Austin (Mabry), TX, measured their highest 1-day total on record for November. Nearby Austin (Bergstrom) netted 8.68 inches, their greatest single-day total since 8.70 inches fell on November 23, 1974. Meanwhile, Camp Wood, TX, west of San Antonio, recorded 11.90 inches of rain in a 48-hour period from November 14-16. Elsewhere in Texas, Lubbock's month-to-date rainfall reached 2.95 inches, eclipsing their November 1968 record of 2.67 inches. The Nation's only other heavy precipitation during the week was confined to northeastern Florida, where daily-record totals on November 14 included 4.09 inches in Daytona Beach and 2.72 inches in Melbourne. In contrast, a 32-day spell (October 16 - November 16) without measurable precipitation in Wichita, KS--their longest since a 38-day streak from October 30 - December 6, 1989--ended with a 0.44-inch rainfall on November 17-18. Elsewhere, no measurable rain fell during the first 17 days of November in locations such as Asheville, NC, Columbia, SC, Macon, GA, Meridian, MS, Grand Island, NE, Aberdeen, SD, and Sioux City, IA. Much of Alaska marked a sixth consecutive week of cold weather, especially across southern and western areas, where readings averaged as much as 15 degrees F below normal. In the Aleutians, Cold Bay noted consecutive daily-record lows (13 and 18 degrees F) on November 15-16. Mostly dry weather prevailed across mainland Alaska, while generally light precipitation fell in southern areas. Meanwhile in Hawaii, mostly light showers were observed, following recent, drought-easing rainfall. Some of the week's heaviest rain fell across portions of the Big Island from November 13-15, when the 48-hour total at Laupahoehoe reached 2.81 inches. National Agricultural Summary November 12 - 18, 2001 Highlights: A storm system developed over the southern Great Plains, producing heavy rainfall accumulations that halted fieldwork across much of Texas. Some areas experienced flooding, but most of the precipitation was beneficial for developing winter crops. Storms also provided much-needed moisture for winter grains in the interior Pacific Northwest, although soil moisture reserves remained low. Coastal rains boosted moisture supplies for fruits, vegetables, and winter grains and forages in California. Harvest continued with few delays in the Corn Belt, central and northern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Topsoil moisture supplies remained mostly adequate for winter wheat development in the Corn Belt, but increasing moisture shortages hindered emergence and development in the central and northern Great Plains and along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Warm weather stimulated growth of winter grains and forages where adequate moisture supplies were available. Winter wheat: Ninety percent of the crop has emerged, well ahead of the 81-percent pace on this date last year but only slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 88 percent. Rain and warm weather boosted emergence and growth in the southern Great Plains. However, precipitation varied from light, soaking showers across most of Oklahoma and eastern Texas to persistent downpours that flooded streams and low-lying areas in central and northern Texas. Meanwhile, moisture shortages increased in the central and northern Great Plains, lower Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Nearly all of the acreage was emerged in the central Great Plains, and warm weather accelerated growth where moisture supplies were adequate. In Arkansas and North Carolina, seedlings emerged in more than 10 percent of the fields, but stands were spotty and thin due to topsoil moisture shortages, especially in North Carolina. Warm weather and adequate topsoil moisture promoted rapid emergence and vigorous growth in the Corn Belt. Fields in California and the interior Pacific Northwest received beneficial precipitation, but moisture supplies remained low in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Corn: Harvest was 97 percent complete at the end of the week and was on pace with last year's early finish. Harvest neared completion slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 94 percent. Rain was scattered and light in the Corn Belt, allowing nearly uninterrupted harvest progress in States with significant acreage still standing in the fields. Harvest was most active in Michigan, where one-fifth of the crop was picked during the week. Harvest also remained active in Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In Michigan and Wisconsin, harvest moved ahead of the 5-year average for the first time this season. Harvest also edged ahead of normal in Indiana. By the end of the week, harvest was nearly complete in the southern and western Corn Belt and Great Plains, and approached completion around the Great Lakes, eastern Corn Belt, and Pennsylvania. Cotton: Eighty-six percent of the crop was picked, compared with 82 percent on this date last year and the average of 81 percent. Picking was aided by dry weather throughout the week in the Southeast and on the Atlantic Coastal Plains. In Alabama, harvest remained behind normal, despite rapid progress during the week. In Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, about 10 percent of the acreage was picked during the week. In the southern Great Plains, harvest was very active early in the week. However, widespread, persistent rain suspended progress across most of Texas and parts of Oklahoma after midweek. In most areas, saturated bolls need several days of dry weather before harvest can resume. Also, some fields need a hard freeze before harvest can be completed. In the Southwest, rain halted harvest in California, but picking continued without interruption in Arizona. About 1 percent of the crop remained unharvested in the lower Mississippi Valley. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Nov 18,:Nov 11,:Nov 18,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 100 95 99 95 IL : 98 96 99 97 IN : 95 82 100 93 IA : 98 93 100 97 KS : 100 100 100 98 KY : 100 99 100 98 MI : 85 65 79 80 MN : 98 95 99 97 MO : 99 95 100 95 NE : 98 94 98 95 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 100 97 88 93 OH : 92 78 89 84 PA : 90 87 71 77 SD : 99 95 94 93 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 100 100 100 WI : 88 72 90 87 : 18 Sts: 97 91 97 94 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Nov 18,:Nov 11,:Nov 18,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 80 65 93 89 AZ : 75 66 81 76 AR : 99 95 99 97 CA : 92 90 87 82 GA : 83 73 81 76 LA : 99 98 100 100 MS : 99 96 100 99 MO : 99 98 100 93 NC : 86 77 84 76 OK : 69 60 75 68 SC : 81 70 84 82 TN : 96 92 100 95 TX : 77 70 65 69 VA : 89 81 78 74 : 14 Sts: 86 80 82 81 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Nov 18,:Nov 11,:Nov 18,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 74 59 77 69 CA : 34 20 34 21 CO : 100 100 100 99 ID : 96 92 89 90 IL : 95 91 96 96 IN : 93 83 98 95 KS : 98 96 89 94 MI : 90 86 99 98 MO : 83 *70 86 82 MT : 90 85 84 90 NE : 100 100 100 100 NC : 50 38 44 46 OH : 94 87 97 96 OK : 90 85 64 84 OR : 95 83 89 85 SD : 97 95 74 94 TX : 79 75 66 81 WA : 99 97 100 98 : 18 Sts: 90 86 81 88 -------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Winter Wheat: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States -------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 0 4 40 50 6 CA : 0 0 20 60 20 CO : 1 4 27 59 9 ID : 0 1 19 68 12 IL : 1 4 25 63 7 IN : 4 7 36 47 6 KS : 2 12 33 45 8 MI : 0 8 27 59 6 MO : 0 2 34 60 4 MT : 6 26 55 13 0 NE : 1 4 25 61 9 NC : 6 30 36 28 0 OH : 4 11 27 49 9 OK : 20 28 29 19 4 OR : 3 22 51 24 0 SD : 1 8 35 49 7 TX : 12 26 46 14 2 WA : 2 4 63 31 0 : 18 Sts : 6 15 36 37 6 : Prev Wk : 7 15 34 38 6 Prev Yr : 2 8 34 48 8 -------------------------------------- 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 after 12 p.m. ET on November 27, 2001. 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