National Weather Summary: November 9 - 15, 2008
Highlights: A slow-moving storm produced widespread precipitation,
especially across the South and East. Mid- to late-week rainfall totals topped 4 inches in parts of the western Gulf Coast region and a few locations in the lower Southeast, while amounts in excess of 2 inches were common from the Gulf Coast northward into the Ohio Valley and the southern Mid-Atlantic States.
The rain slowed Southeastern fieldwork but revived pastures and provided beneficial moisture for winter grains. Farther north, rain aided the eastern Corn Belt's soft red winter wheat, while occasional showers again slowed the western Corn Belt's significantly delayed corn harvest. However, only light precipitation fell across the northwestern fringe of the Corn Belt, including North Dakota, where a winter storm had stalled fieldwork in early November.
Meanwhile on the Plains, conditions remained mostly favorable for winter wheat, although crop growth slowed due to seasonably colder weather. From Kansas southward into Texas, harvesting of late-maturing cotton and sorghum advanced under mostly dry conditions. Elsewhere, Western weather conditions featured a marked contrast between major flooding west of the Cascades and ferocious wildfires in southern California. Heavy precipitation gradually subsided in the Pacific Northwest, but river levels remained high for several days in the wake of early-November downpours. Farther south, three large wildfires near Los Angeles charred more than 40,000 acres of vegetation and damaged or destroyed nearly 1,000 structures.
Early in the week, a storm departing the West produced some lingering precipitation across the Great Basin and the Intermountain region. In Nevada, daily-record precipitation totals for November 9 included 0.47 inch in Elko and 0.41 inch in Ely. In addition, Ely received a daily-record snowfall total of 1.2 inches. Daily-record snowfall totals were also broken in Flagstaff, AZ (2.5 inches on November 9), and Alamosa, CO (2.8 inches on November 10). Farther east, locally heavy rain and snow showers developed
across the nation's mid-section, where record precipitation amounts for November 10 in Nebraska included 0.83 inch in Imperial and 0.80 inch in Grand Island. Imperial's precipitation fell in the form of 10.5 inches of snow.
Wichita, KS (1.18 inches on November 10-11), and Lincoln, IL (0.33 inch on November 11-12), have already established annual precipitation records, with a month and a half remaining in the year. Wichita's January 1 - November 15 total reached 52.53 inches (previously, 50.48 inches in 1951), while Lincoln's sum climbed to 51.34 inches (previously, 50.84 inches in 1927). On November 10-11, Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, noted consecutive daily-record totals (2.23 and 1.68 inches, respectively). Elsewhere in the western Gulf Coast
region, record amounts for November 11 reached 3.18 inches in Tyler, TX, and 2.58 inches in Shreveport, LA. On November 11-12, 24-hour rainfall totals in eastern Texas were as high as 8.31 inches in Lumberton and 7.00 inches in Liberty.
Meanwhile, Quillayute, WA, netted 14.41 inches of rain during the first half of the month, aided by a daily-record sum of 2.36 inches on November 11. Record amounts in Washington for November 12 included 4.12 inches in Plain and 1.57 inches in Pullman. Previously, Plain's wettest day on record occurred on November 6, 2006, when 3.78 inches fell. West of the Cascades, November 11-12 rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches were common, with isolated amounts near 10 inches reported in southwestern Washington and northwestern
Oregon. In western Washington, the Nisqually River near National crested 2.82 feet above flood stage on November 12, representing the second-highest level in the last 50 years behind 3.14 feet above flood stage on November 6, 2006. Similarly, the Carbon River near Fairfax, WA, crested 2.32 feet above flood stage on November 12, behind only 3.43 feet on November 6, 2006, and 2.35 feet on February 8, 1996. Warmth accompanied the Pacific Northwestern
flooding, with highs reaching daily-record values for November 12 in
locations such as The Dalles, OR (74 degrees F), and Yakima, WA (71 degrees F).
After mid-week, warmth prevailed across the Southeast and expanded across the West. In Florida, highs climbed to 88 degrees F on November 14 in Orlando and Lakeland, followed the next day by identical readings in Miami and West Palm Beach. Elsewhere in the East, record highs for November 15 included 64 degrees F in St. Johnsbury, VT, and 62 degrees F in Houlton, ME. At week's end, a cold front put an end to the Eastern warmth and triggered severe
thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes in the eastern Carolinas. There were single tornado-related fatalities reported in Johnston and Wilson Counties, NC. There were 120 U.S. deaths due to tornadoes during the first half of 2008, but there have been only five such fatalities since July 1. Meanwhile in California, the week ended (on November 14-15) with consecutive daily-record highs in locations such as Red Bluff (81 and 84 degrees F), Oakland (82 and 85 degrees F), Burbank (91 and 90 degrees F), Santa Ana (94 degrees F both days), and El Cajon (94 and 96 degrees F). In addition, winds howled across southern California during the second half of the week, with gusts reaching 75 m.p.h. (on November 13) on Whitaker Peak and 78 m.p.h. (on November 15) at Camp Nine. The latter gust occurred near the site of the Sayre fire, which was one of three major incidents (along with the Freeway complex and the Tea fire) to affect the hills near Los Angeles. The Freeway complex was the largest of the fires, with acreage approaching 30,000 acres by November 17, while the Sayre fire was the most destructive, with more than 600 structures consumed by flames.
Near- to above-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, accompanied by periods of light precipitation. Fairbanks' streak of 29 consecutive days (October 12 - November 9) with below-normal temperatures ended with a warmer-than-normal day on November 10. Anchorage received 2.5 inches of snow on November 11, while outlying areas netted as much as 6 to 14 inches.
Meanwhile in Hawaii, scattered showers provided local drought relief. On the Big Island, Hilo received 1.94 inches from November 12-14. Honolulu, Oahu, collected 1.55 inches of rain on November 14-15, although the year-to-date rainfall stood at just 5.82 inches (41 percent of normal).
National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397.
Agricultural Summary: November 10 - 16, 2008
Corn: Less than an inch of precipitation fell across the western Corn Belt, while eastward, up to 3 inches was received. Average temperatures ranged from 30 degrees in the northern Great Plains eastward to the Great Lakes, to as high as 45 degrees just northwest of the Ohio River. Seventy-eight percent of the nation's corn crop was harvested, 19 points behind last year and 16 points behind the 5-year average.
Harvest was complete in North Carolina and Tennessee, and was nearly complete in Kentucky and Texas. Heavy harvest activity was evident in Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Soybeans: Through the northern Great Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley, average temperatures were cooler than 25 degrees in some isolated areas, while light precipitation was evident. Producers had harvested 95 percent of the soybean crop by week's end, 3 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Though only 3 points behind the normal pace in North Carolina, producers had only harvested 42 percent of the acreage, while elsewhere, 83 percent or more of the crop had been reaped.
Producers in several northern Corn Belt States had completed harvest.
Winter Wheat: Ninety-six percent of the winter wheat acreage was planted, the same as last year and the 5-year average. Planting was complete or near complete across much of the growing area, however in California and North Carolina, a substantial amount of acreage was yet to be planted. Other than in Illinois, where planting progress was 17 points ahead of the average, producers were seeding winter wheat within 5 points of the 5-year average.
Major planting activity was evident in Arkansas, California, and North
Carolina. Emergence had occurred on 88 percent of the acreage, 4 points ahead of last year and the same as the 5-year average. Development was occurring rapidly in Arkansas, Missouri, and North Carolina, but was well behind normal in the Pacific Northwest. Emergence was complete in Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota and neared completion in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana. Condition of the winter wheat crop was rated 66 percent good to excellent, a 2 point decline from the previous week's rating.
Cotton: Sixty-four percent of the cotton acreage was harvested, 10 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in Missouri and neared completion in the Delta and in Tennessee.
Progress ranged from 23 points behind the 5-year average in Kansas to 12 points ahead in Missouri. Harvest was very active in California, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas.
Sorghum: Producers had harvested 78 percent of the sorghum crop, 18 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in the Delta, and ranged from 45 percent complete in New Mexico to 88 percent complete in Illinois. Producers were harvesting at or behind the average pace in all States except Colorado and Texas, where harvest was 1 point ahead.
Peanuts: Producers had harvested 95 percent of the peanut crop, 6 points ahead of last year and 2 points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was complete in North Carolina, and was within 4 points of the 5-year average, elsewhere, except in Texas, where harvest was 11 points ahead.
Other Crops: Sugarbeet harvest was complete, 1 point ahead of last year and the 5-year average.
Sunflower harvest was 77 percent complete, 17 points behind last year and 15 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was delayed when compared with the normal pace in all producing States.
