National Weather Summary
July 12 - 18, 2009

Highlights:  Cool air pushed deep into the Plains and the South, preceded and accompanied by widespread showers.  Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees F below normal in the upper Midwest, while hot weather prevailed from the Pacific Coast States into the south-central U.S.  Weekly rainfall totaled 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts, in many locations from the central Plains into the Southeast.  From the lower Mississippi Valley into the Southeast, cooler, wetter weather aided previously stressed pastures and summer crops. 

Farther north, showery weather across the southern and western Corn Belt contrasted with mostly dry conditions in the Great Lakes region and parts of the Ohio Valley.  Late-planted and slow-developing
Midwestern summer crops continued to benefit from a lack of heat and adequate to abundant soil moisture reserves.  Meanwhile across the nation's mid-section, showers provided some drought relief in parts of Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas, while generally favorable conditions existed across the remainder of the Plains.  However, extreme heat and historically dry conditions persisted through week's end across much of southern Texas.  Elsewhere, hot, dry weather covered much of the West.  An early-week storm produced mostly
light rain in the Northwest, while isolated showers associated with the
monsoon were generally confined to the Four Corners States.

Early in the week, heat intensified across the West, where Phoenix, AZ (115 degrees F on July 12), posted a daily-record high.  Later, Utah's Zion National Park closed the week with consecutive daily-record highs of 113 degrees F on July 17-18.  Elsewhere on July 18, Death Valley, CA (128 degrees F), recorded its hottest day since July 6, 2007, when the high reached 129 degrees F.  Since 1911, Death Valley has reached or exceeded 128 degrees F on just twenty occasions.  Meanwhile, extreme heat persisted across southern
Texas.  From July 1-18, high temperatures in McAllen, TX, topped 100 degrees F on 16 days--falling short with readings of 99 degrees F on July 2 and 11.  McAllen last experienced a cooler-than-normal daily average temperature on June 24.  Elsewhere in Texas, Austin (Mabry) endured its warmest 30-day period on record from June 19 - July 18, with an average temperature of 89.6 degrees F.  In stark contrast, chilly weather prevailed across the upper Midwest and expanded across the eastern half of the nation by week's end.  In
the Great Lakes region, daily-record lows for July 12 included 35 degrees F in International Falls, MN, and 44 degrees F in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  The following day, records for July 13 dipped to 35 degrees F (for the second day in a row) at International Falls and 36 degrees F in Houghton Lake, MI.  By July 14, Eastern temperatures fell below 50 degrees F in locations such as Elkins, WV (44 degrees F), Concord, NH (47 degrees F), and Youngstown, OH (49 degrees F).  In New York, Binghamton (51, 50, and 51 degrees F) posted three consecutive daily-record lows from July 13-15.  At week's end (on July 18), high temperatures failed to reach 60 degrees F in Michigan locations such as Gaylord (57 degrees F), and Houghton Lake (59 degrees F), and did not attain 70 degrees F as far south as Lexington, KY (69 degrees F).  Among dozens of late-week daily-record lows were readings of 42 degrees F (on July 17) in Williston, ND, and 45 degrees F (on July 18) in Chadron, NE.  In South Dakota, Timber Lake closed the week with consecutive daily record lows (44
degrees F on both days) on July 17-18.  In southern Kansas, Medicine Lodge (58 degrees F on July 18) tallied a daily-record low 8 days after notching a daily-record high of 111 degrees F.

In the Northwest, beneficial showers ended early in the week.  Daily-record totals in Oregon for July 12 included 0.69 inch in Eugene and 0.68 inch in Salem.  The following day in western Montana, Kalispell (1.33 inches) netted a record-setting sum for July 13.  Meanwhile, heavy showers erupted from the Plains into the Southeast, resulting in record totals for July 13 in locations such as Birmingham, AL (3.15 inches), and Valentine, NE (2.40 inches).  Heavy rain also spread into parts of the Midwest, where Brainerd, MN, netted 4.99 inches in a 24-hour period on July 14-15.  On July 15, Midwestern daily-record totals included 2.72 inches in Lincoln, IL, and 1.21 inches in Dubuque, IA.  Later, locally heavy showers continued to pepper the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast, although cooler, drier weather arrived in most areas by week's end.  Both Muscle Shoals, AL (on July 16), and Elizabeth
City, NC (on July 17), netted daily-record totals of 2.60 inches.  Other
daily rainfall records for July 17 included 2.23 inches in Imperial, NE; 1.85 inches in Midland, TX; and 1.65 inches in Fort Wayne, IN.  A few showers also developed in eastern Texas, although College Station's streak without measurable rain stretched to 55 days (May 25 - July 18).

Warm weather continued in Alaska, where Barrow reached or exceed 70 degrees F on 3 consecutive days (July 12-14) for only the second time on record, along with July 12-14, 1993.  In addition, Barrow's maximum temperature of 74 degrees F (on July 14) was its highest reading since July 13, 1993, when an all-time record of 79 degrees F occurred.  Alaskan daily-record highs included 88 degrees F (on July 13) in Fairbanks, 85 degrees F (on July 12) in McGrath, and 70 degrees F (on July 15) in Kodiak.  Late-week showers provided
some local relief from Alaskan dryness.  No measurable rain fell in King Salmon during the first 16 days of the month, but 0.75 inch was measured on July 17-18.  In Fairbanks, the month's only measurable rain (0.04 inch) fell on July 15.  In Anchorage, July 18 was the last of 20 consecutive days without measurable rain, but 0.15 inch fell on July 19.  By July 20, the Railbelt wildfire complex near Nenana grew to more than 240,000 acres, boosting Alaska's year-to-date amount of charred vegetation above 1.1 million acres.  Farther south, showers primarily affected Hawaii's windward locations.  On the Big Island at Hilo, weekly rainfall reached 3.58 inches, with 1.57 inches falling in a 24-hour period on July 17-18.

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

Agricultural Summary  July 13 - 19, 2009

Highlights:  A week of predominately dry weather prevailed in the Great Lakes regiona and from the Rocky Mountains westward to the Pacific Coast, while several locations in the eastern half of the country accumulated up to and over 4 inches of rainfall, helping to improve soil moisture conditions.  Above average temperatures prevailed in the west, down through Texas, and along the Gulf Coast.  In contrast, cooler than normal temperatures dominated the northern and central Great Plains eastward to the coast.

Corn:  By week's end, 31 percent of the nation's corn crop was at or beyond the silking stage, on par with last year, but 23 points, or slightly over a week, behind the 5-year average.  Despite significant jumps in development during the week, large phenological delays remained in Illinois and Indiana where the corn crop struggled to overcome setbacks caused by a slow start to planting earlier in the season.  Overall, 71 percent of this year's crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but up 6 percent from last year.

Soybeans:  Blooming advanced 20 points during the week, leaving progress, at 44 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year, but 18 points behind the 5-year average.  The crop was most developed in the Delta States of Louisiana and Mississippi; however progress was at or behind normal in all estimating States.  In Wisconsin, continued cool, dry weather hampered crop development and caused a significant decline in crop conditions, as well.  Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 66 percent last week and 61 percent last year.

Winter Wheat:  Nationwide, winter wheat producers harvested 6 percent of their crop during the week.  At 72 percent complete, this year's harvest progress was on par with the pace a year ago, but 5 points slower than normal.  With over 5 days suitable for fieldwork, producers in Nebraska, Ohio, and Colorado harvested the largest percentage of acreage at 27, 26, and 25 percent, respectively.

Cotton:  Squaring advanced to 84 percent complete by week's end, 8 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of normal.  Squaring progress was complete or nearly complete in the Delta, Tennessee, and North Carolina.  In Georgia, the second largest cotton-producing State, square retention in dryland fields worsened as soil moisture levels continued to decline.  Boll set was evident in 32 percent of the 2009 cotton crop, 6 points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average.  Overall, 45 percent of the cotton crop was rated in good to excellent condition, up 2 points from last week and on par with conditions a year ago.

Sorghum:  Acreage at or beyond the heading stage reached 31 percent by July 19, two points slower than last year and 7 points slower than normal.  Progress remained at or behind the 5-year average in all States except Louisiana and New Mexico.  One-quarter of the Nation's sorghum crop had reached the coloring stage, slightly behind last year, but on par with the average pace.  Progress remained limited to Colorado, Texas, and the Delta. 

Fifty-four percent of this year's sorghum crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a 2 point improvement from last week, but unchanged from a year ago.

Rice:  Heading advanced to 21 percent complete by week's end, 3 points ahead of last year, but 3 points behind the 5-year average.  The rice crop was most advanced in Texas and Louisiana, while the crop in California and Missouri had just begun developing heads, and was 1 week and 3 weeks behind the normal pace, respectively.  Producers in Louisiana started draining early-planted rice fields in preparation for harvest.  Overall, 61 percent of the rice crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a slight decrease from a week ago
and 6 points below last year.

Small Grains:  Heading in this year's spring wheat crop advanced to
84 percent complete, 9 points below last year and the average.  Above average temperatures in the western part of the growing region aided significant advancement in Idaho's and Montana's crop, where 31 percent of the crop developed heads during the week.  Despite cooler than normal temperatures in North Dakota, 31 percent of the crop put on heads during the week; however, progress remained over a week behind normal.  Overall, 73 percent of the
spring wheat crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 71 percent last week and 63 percent last year.

By week's end, 84 percent of the 2009 barley crop was at or beyond the heading stage, 7 point slower than the pace last year and 8 points behind normal.  Significant advancement was evident in all estimating States except Washington, where heading was virtually complete.  Overall, 80 percent of the barley crop was rated in good to excellent condition, up 2 points from last week and 22 points better than a year ago.

Nationally, 97 percent of the oat crop was at or beyond the heading stage, 1 point slower than last year and the 5-year average.  Progress was complete or nearly complete in all States expect Minnesota and North Dakota where 93 and 89 percent of the crop had developed heads.  Harvest was underway in all estimating States except North Dakota.  By July 19, fourteen percent of the Nation's crop was harvested, compared with 13 percent last year and 20 percent for the average.  Producers in Texas, the largest oat-producing
State, completed harvest during the week.  Overall, 56 percent of the oat crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a 3 point decline from last week and 6 points below last year.

Other Crops:  Pegging was evident in 60 percent of the peanut crop, 11 points behind last year and 10 points behind the 5-year average.  Progress was behind normal in all States except along the Mid-Atlantic Coast in the Carolinas and Virginia.  Overall, 64 percent of the peanut crop was rated in good to excellent condition compared with 61 percent last week and a year ago.