National Weather Summary: April 13 - 19, 2008

           

Highlights:  Although heavy precipitation was less widespread than during previous weeks, at least an inch of rain dampened the east-central Plains and an area stretching from eastern Texas into Wisconsin.  Spring fieldwork largely remained on hold in a broad region centered on Iowa and Missouri, but mostly dry weather permitted producers to just start planting corn in a few

better-drained sections of the eastern Corn Belt.  Dry weather also prevailed in the upper Midwest, although low soil temperatures substantially limited planting progress.  Meanwhile, parts of the Plains and the Southeast experienced cold-weather threats (from April 14-16), but sluggish crop development and slow planting progress helped to prevent major freeze impacts.  Planting and other fieldwork advanced in the Southeast until week's end, when showers arrived.  Farther west, highlights on the High Plains included wildfires (on April 15) in Colorado, followed by rain and snow, and a snow-producing storm (on April 19-20) in Montana.  Elsewhere, mild, dry weather across the southern half of the West contrasted with a return to

cool, showery conditions in the Northwest. 

 

Toward week's end, rare April snow fell west of the Cascades, while some Northwestern fruit producers guarded against a surge of crop-threatening cold air.  Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 5 degrees F below normal in the Northwest, but ranged from 5 to 10 degrees F below normal across much of the South.  In contrast,

warm air finally spread into the Northeast, where temperatures averaged at least 5 degrees F above normal in many locations.

                                                                               

Early in the week, record warmth prevailed across the West.  In southern California, Anaheim (91, 96, and 102 degrees F), notched three consecutive daily-record highs from April 11-13.  Other Western records on April 13 included 94 degrees F in Bakersfield, CA, 80 degrees F in both Boise, ID, and Harlem, MT.  Elsewhere in Montana, record highs were also set on April 14 in location such as Great Falls (79 degrees F) and Helena (78 degrees F).  A day later on the central High Plains, temperatures above 90 degrees F and dewpoints below 0 degrees F created a situation ripe for wildfire development.  At 4 p.m. on April 15, Lamar, CO, reported a temperature of 91 degrees F and a dewpoint reading of -3 degrees F.  A nearly 9,000-acre fire

in Ordway, CO, resulted in two deaths and burned 44 buildings, while an 8,700-acre fire at Ft. Carson, CO, brought significant smoke into Colorado Springs.  The following day, however, 2 inches of snow blanketed Colorado Springs.

                                                                               

Meanwhile, contrast, cold weather settled across the eastern half of the U.S.  In fact, late-season freezes affected several areas.  On April 14, temperatures generally ranged from 22 to 32 degrees F in Kansas and Oklahoma.  However, usually slow winter wheat development helped the crop withstand the freeze with few adverse impacts.  A day later, light freezes (mostly 28 to 32 degrees F) affected the interior Southeast, although temperatures were

generally not low enough to significantly harm winter grains, fruit crops, and emerging summer crops.  Similar temperatures were noted on April 16 in the southern Mid-Atlantic region.  Specific daily-record lows for April 14 included 11 degrees F in Rhinelander, WI; 15 degrees F in St. Cloud, MN; 24 degrees F in Fayetteville, AR; 28 degrees F in Joplin, MO; and 30 degrees F in McAlester, OK.  The following day, April 15, freezes and record lows were reported in locations such as Jackson, TN (28 degrees F); Greenwood, MS (30

degrees F); and Tuscaloosa, AL (31 degrees F).  Tuscaloosa's latest freeze on record occurred on April 21, 1953, when it was 31 degrees F.  During a final flurry of Southeastern daily-record lows on April 16, readings dipped to 24 degrees F in Blacksburg, VA; 29 degrees F in Charlotte, NC; and 33 degrees F in both Macon, GA, and Tallahassee, FL.

                                                                               

After mid-week, chilly air settled across the West in advance of an even colder outbreak.  On April 16, Salinas, CA, posted a daily-record low of 35 degrees F.  The following day, records for April 17 included 12 degrees F in Ely, NV, and 17 degrees F in Cedar City, UT.  At week's end, Redmond, OR (13 and 12 degrees F on April 19-20, respectively), posted its first of two consecutive daily-record lows.  Elsewhere in the Northwest, Yakima, WA (18 degrees F on April 19), noted its lowest reading since February 6.  In Montana, Great Falls netted 15.1 inches of snow on April 19-20, followed by lows of -1 and -8 degrees F on April 20 and 21, respectively.  Previously, Great Falls' latest sub-zero reading occurred on April 6, 1975. In stark

contrast, Northeastern daily-record highs for April 19 included 87 degrees F in Syracuse, NY, and 84 degrees F in Erie, PA.

                                                                                

Very high water levels continued inside levees on main-stem rivers such as the Mississippi River.  On April 16, the Mississippi River at Greenville, MS, crested 9.4 feet above flood stage, just 0.8 foot shy of the high-water mark established on May 12, 1973.  However, the gauge at Greenville was not in operation during the historic floods prior to 1940.  Farther downstream, the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, MS, crested 8.0 feet above flood stage, the

seventh-highest level since the beginning of the 20th century.  Higher crests at Vicksburg were observed in May 1927 (13.2 feet above flood stage), February 1937 (10.2 feet), June 1929 (9.8 feet), April 1922 (9.5 feet), May 1973 (8.6 feet), and February 1916 (8.5 feet).  Compared to the early part of the 20th century, flooding along the lower reaches of the Mississippi River occurs more easily but causes fewer disruptions due to levee protection and channelization of the water.

                                                                                

National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board.  For more information, call (202) 720-2397.

                                                                               

National Agricultural Summary:  April 14 - 20, 2008

                                                                               

Corn: Four percent of the crop was planted, lagging the planting pace of last year by 5 points, and lagging normal by 13 percentage points.  Significant delays were evident in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.  When compared with the 5-year average planting pace, all States were at or behind except Pennsylvania, where planting progress was ahead of usual by 4 points.  Rain delays this week, and previously, held seedings in Missouri and Tennessee 49 and 47 points behind the normal

planting pace, respectfully.  Cooler temperatures and showers have prevented planting from beginning in the eastern Corn Belt and Iowa.

                                                                               

Winter Wheat: Seven percent of the winter wheat acreage had headed, nationwide.  Development was lagging last year's pace and the normal pace by 8 and 7 points, respectively.  Heading had only begun in Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.  In these areas where wheat had headed, progress was significantly behind last year and normal.  In areas where heading had not begun, development was near the 5-year average pace except in Missouri where heading was 7 points behind normal.  Forty-five percent of the Nation's winter wheat crop was rated in good or excellent condition compared with 47 percent last week. 

                                                                               

Cotton:  At 14 percent complete, more of the Nation's expected cotton acreage had been planted when compared with last year at this time and producers were planting at the 5-year average pace.  More than four-fifths of California's cotton acreage was planted, slightly behind last year but 28 points ahead of the usual planting pace.  Planting had begun in all cotton producing States except Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, where planting was at or only slightly behind the usual pace.

                                                                               

Sorghum:  Planting of the sorghum crop had begun in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.  With 26 percent of the crop planted, producers were at the same pace as last year and 3 points ahead of the 5-year average pace. 

 

Planting in Arkansas was facing the most significant delays, after receiving heavy rains during the previous week.  With 7 percent of their intended acreage seeded, producers in the State lagged 53 percentage points behind last year's pace and 36 points behind normal.  Sorghum growers in Louisiana and Texas had nearly two-thirds of their acreage planted and were well ahead of their normal pace.

                                                                               

Rice:  Nationwide, the rice crop was 26 percent planted, behind last year and normal by 14 and 17 points, respectively.  Much of Arkansas, over the last two weeks, received more than 3 inches of rain, delaying rice planting by 33 points when compared with the usual planting pace.  Similarly, in Missouri, over the last 14 days, more than 2 inches and up to 10 inches of rain were evident, keeping rice planting 17 and 30 points behind last year and normal, respectively.  Rice planting had begun in all producing States and was behind both the previous year and the 5-year average planting pace in all States, except Louisiana and Texas.  Rice emergence, at 13 percent,

lagged last year and normal by 6 and 5 points, respectively.  Delays in

emergence were due to planting delays.  Rice had not emerged in California and Missouri, but in Louisiana and in Texas, 59 and 69 percent of the expected planted acreage had emerged.

                                                                               

Small Grains: One-fifth of the spring wheat acreage was planted, 8 points ahead of last year's planting pace but 3 points behind the 5-year average pace.  Minnesota producers had only planted 2 percent of their intended acreage while the other major spring wheat States had planted between 15 and 57 percent of their intended acreage.  Planting gained momentum in most areas during the week, although progress was 14 points or more behind normal in Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Washington.

                                                                               

Twenty-two percent of the Nation's barley acreage was planted, 1 point behind last year and normal.  Growers were planting in all States, except Minnesota, where they were delayed by 3 and 11 points when compared with last year and normal, respectively.  In Montana, producers nearly doubled the amount of acreage planted by the end of the week.  Progress in Washington continued to lag significantly behind last year and normal with only 33 percent of their

expected acreage planted. 

                                                                                

While the oat planting pace is ahead of last year by 1 point, with 42 percent planted, oat producers were lagging behind the 5-year average planting pace by 13 points.  Heavy rains in parts of Iowa limited progress and held growers behind by 31 and 60 points when compared with last year and the normal planting pace.  In most other areas, planting gained momentum during the week but progress remained 20 points or more behind normal in Minnesota, Nebraska,

Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Despite the major planting delays, emergence of oats was only delayed slightly when compared with last year and 4 points when compared with normal.

                                                                                

Other Crops: Sixteen percent of the sugarbeet acreage was planted,

3 and 16 points behind last year and normal, respectively.  Idaho planting was delayed significantly when compared with last year, lagging 31 points.  Planting in all sugarbeet-producing States was delayed when compared with the 5-year average planting pace.  Planting was just getting underway in Minnesota and North Dakota, trailing the usual pace by 16 and 7 points, respectively.