National Weather Summary: September 14 - 20, 2008
Highlights: The remnants of Hurricane Ike raced northeastward early in the week, with the storm's center passing through the middle Mississippi Valley and the lower Great Lakes States. On September 14, damaging wind gusts as high as 60 to 80 m.p.h. tore through the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes region, downing trees and causing widespread electrical outages.
Meanwhile, heavy rain subsided in the storm's wake, although lowland flooding persisted from Missouri into southern Michigan. In contrast, unfavorable dryness continued in much of the Ohio Valley and the upper Midwest. Farther south, hurricane damage assessments continued in the western and central Gulf Coast regions following strikes from Gustav (September 1 in Louisiana) and Ike (September 13 in Texas). Showers lingered during the early- to mid-week period from the Carolinas southward into Florida, and returned toward week's end to the central Gulf Coast States.
Meanwhile on the Plains, dry weather favored an acceleration of winter wheat planting and other fieldwork, especially across the northern half of the region. Weekly temperatures ranged from 5 to 10 degrees F below normal on the southeastern Plains, where some fields remained soggy, but averaged as much as 10 degrees F above normal on the northern High Plains.
Elsewhere, very warm, mostly dry weather prevailed in the West. A late-season heat wave boosted temperatures as much as 10 degrees F above normal in the Northwest, where winter wheat planting
advanced. Late in the week, however, cooler, showery weather in the
Northwest slowed fieldwork but boosted topsoil moisture for small grain emergence.
Early in the week, Ike-related downpours continued in parts of the Midwest. Daily-record totals for September 14 included 4.58 inches in St. Louis, MO, and 4.07 inches in South Bend, IN. By September 20, the year-to-date precipitation in St. Louis climbed to 50.03 inches (176 percent of normal), leaving the city just 4.94 inches shy of its 1982 annual record. South Bend's 2-day (September 13-14) rainfall reached 10.65 inches, boosting its monthly total (13.68 inches through September 20) to a record-breaking level for September (previously, 9.01 inches in 1977) and any month (previously, 10.86 inches in June 1993). In the rain's wake, record crests were noted in
several locations, including the Little Calumet River at Munster, IN (5.31 feet above flood stage on September 14; previously, 5.03 feet on November 28, 1990); the Kankakee River at Shelby, IN (4.18 feet above flood stage on September 18; previously, 3.98 feet on March 24, 1982); and the Illinois River at Morris, IL (8.84 feet above flood stage on September 16; previously, 7.91 feet on July 14, 1957).
Farther east, high winds raked the Ohio Valley, where peak gusts on September 14 were clocked to 75 m.p.h. in Columbus, OH, and 63 m.p.h. in Indianapolis, IN. A gust to 81 m.p.h. was noted as far north and east as the Beaver County Airport in western Pennsylvania. Ike's
remnants were also responsible for at least two dozen tornadoes in an area stretching from eastern Texas and northern Louisiana into Arkansas.
Meanwhile in La Crosse, WI, rainfall totaled just 1.15 inches (14 percent of normal) from July 23 - September 20, representing its driest 60-day period during the growing season since 1976, when only 1.08 inches fell from August 2 - September 30.
The week opened in the midst of a warm spell in the East, where daily-record highs for September 14 included 93 degrees F in both Norfolk, VA, and Georgetown, DE. In contrast, cool air settled across the south-central U.S., resulting in a daily-record low for September 16 in San Angelo, TX (47 degrees F).
Farther west, hot conditions developed across the interior
Northwest. Monument, OR (102 degrees F) posted a daily-record high for September 17, followed 2 days later by records in locations such as La Crosse, WA, and Boise, ID (both 94 degrees F). Warmth also reached the northern Plains, where Dickinson, ND (89 degrees F on September 19), notched a daily-record high. By week's end, however, precipitation arrived in the Northwest, where Boise (0.90 inch) netted a daily-record total for September 20. Elsewhere, the week ended on a frosty note across the interior Northeast. September 19 featured the season's first freeze in many locations, including Massena, NY, and Millinocket, ME (both 30 degrees F).
Near- to above-normal temperatures prevailed in Alaska, with readings averaging as much as 5 degrees F above normal across northern areas. Heavy precipitation was confined to southeastern Alaska, where frequent storms dumped at least 5 inches of rain in some locations. For example, Yakutat's September 1-20 rainfall reached 18.46 inches, aided by a weekly total of 8.56 inches. Farther north, Fairbanks (36 degrees F on September 19) noted its latest date on record of the season's first reading of 36 degrees F or lower
(previously, 33 degrees F on September 18, 2007). Meanwhile, mostly dry conditions persisted in Hawaii. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more three-quarters of Hawaii was experiencing drought by mid-September. Through September 20, year-to-date rainfall totals were as low as 3.46 inches (33 percent of normal) in Honolulu, Oahu, and 3.54 inches (29 percent) in Kahului, Maui.
National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board. For more information, call (202) 720-2397.
National Agricultural Summary
September 15 - 21, 2008
Corn: A band of heavy rain fell across central Illinois, northern Indiana,
and southern Michigan during the week. Temperatures across much of the Corn Belt varied between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ninety percent of the corn acreage had reached the dent stage, 8 points behind last year and 5 points behind the 5-year average. Denting was complete in Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee, and was nearly complete in Kentucky, Minnesota,
Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas. Thirty-three percent of the corn crop was mature, 43 points behind last year and 30 points behind the 5-year average.
Corn acreage was reaching maturity at or ahead of normal in Colorado, North Carolina, and Ohio, but was behind the average by up to 46 points, elsewhere. Producers had harvested 5 percent of the Nation's corn, 15 points behind last year and 9 points behind the average. Condition of the corn crop declined 2 points from the previous week to 59 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans: Varied temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees held throughout the week in major soybean areas. Significant rainfall was received in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, while only limited precipitation fell elsewhere. Nationwide, 44 percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, 26 points behind last year and 20 points less than the 5-year average. Leaf dropping slowed in Missouri and North Carolina, but was active elsewhere. Nearly all states' acreage was dropping leaves behind the average pace. Soybean condition
remained unchanged from last week at 57 percent good to excellent.
Winter Wheat: Minimal rainfall was received across the winter wheat growing area, while temperatures varied from slightly below normal in the south to slightly above normal in the north. Producers had planted 22 percent of the winter wheat acreage, 2 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. In the west, producers were seeding their acreage on time or slightly ahead of usual, while elsewhere, planting was behind.
Cotton: Most cotton producing areas received little or no precipitation
during the week while average temperatures ranged from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Bolls were open on 52 percent of the acreage, 10 points behind last year and the 5-year average. Producers had harvested 9 percent of the cotton acreage, 3 points behind last year and the 5-year average pace. Harvest was most active in Arizona and Texas during the week. Cotton condition improved 1 point from last week to 48 percent good to excellent.
Sorghum: Coloring reached 80 percent of the sorghum acreage, 16 points behind last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Coloring was complete in the Delta and Colorado, at or ahead of the average pace. In New Mexico, though not complete, coloring was ahead of the average pace. Elsewhere, acreage was coloring behind normal. Forty-three percent of the acreage was mature, 17 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average. In Illinois, sorghum acreage was developing to maturity 57 points behind the average pace. Thirty-two percent of the crop was harvested, 9 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average.
Sorghum harvest was underway in the Delta and the southern Great Plains. Sorghum condition was rated 53 percent good to excellent, a 1 point decline from last week.
Rice: Thirty-eight percent of the rice crop was harvested, 20 points behind last year and 18 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was behind last year and normal in all States. Sixty-two percent of the rice crop was rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week.
Small Grains: Barley acreage was 94 percent harvested, 6 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average. Harvest was delayed in all States except Minnesota and North Dakota.
Spring Wheat harvest was 97 percent complete, 3 points behind last year and the same as the 5-year average. Harvest was slightly delayed in the Pacific Northwest but was at or ahead of normal elsewhere.
Other Crops: Seven percent of the peanut crop had been harvested, 3 points ahead of last year but 1 point behind the 5-year average. Harvest was at or behind normal in all States. Condition of the crop was rated 66 percent good to excellent, a 1 point decrease from the previous week.
Sugarbeet producers had harvested 5 percent of the acreage, 2 points behind last year and 1 point behind the 5-year average. Harvest was within 4 points of the 5-year average in all States.