National Weather Summary: October 18 - 24, 2009

Highlights:  From the soggy Midwest into the waterlogged lower Mississippi Valley, a brief window of opportunity for fieldwork closed on October 21-22 with the arrival of heavy rain.  Weekly rainfall totaled 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts, in many locations from the western half of the Gulf Coast region into the Great Lakes States. 

Heavy precipitation also soaked the Northeast, but mostly dry weather favored harvest activities in the southern Atlantic coastal plain.  Meanwhile, precipitation disrupted fieldwork across parts of the Plains.  Especially heavy rain (locally 4 inches or more) soaked the southeastern Plains on October 21-22, while heavy snow blanketed portions of the central Plains.  Elsewhere, mild, mostly
dry weather promoted fieldwork in California and the Southwest.  Western precipitation was mostly confined to the Rockies and the Northwest; in the latter region, showers aided emerging winter grains.

Weekly temperatures averaged more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across northern New England and much of the South, while near- to slightly below-normal readings prevailed in other areas from the Plains to the East Coast.  Meanwhile, near- to above-normal temperatures covered much of the West.  On October 18-19, frost occurred as far south as Alabama and Georgia. 

Freezes (readings of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) covered the eastern Corn Belt and the interior Southeast as far south as eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.  By week's end, at least one freeze had occurred in well over 90 percent of the Nation's corn production area, while hard freezes (readings of 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) had been observed in more than 60 percent
of the production area.

Early in the week, an early-season snow storm shifted into New England, where Worcester, Massachusetts (1.0 inch on October 18), received measurable snow for the second time in 3 days.  Worcester received 1.4 inches on October 16.  Elsewhere in Massachusetts, Boston (0.1 inch on October 18) experienced its third-earliest measurable snowfall, behind 0.2 inch on October 10, 1979, and
0.4 inch on October 14, 1913.  Farther west, a developing storm produced daily-record precipitation totals for October 19 in locations such as Stanford, Montana (1.04 inches), and Ely, Nevada (0.94 inch). 

By October 21, heavy rain arrived across the Plains and upper Midwest, resulting in daily-record totals in locations such as Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas (2.42 inches); Goodland, Kansas (1.87 inches); and La Crosse, Wisconsin (1.60 inches).  Snow fell from Colorado into Nebraska, with daily records being set in Alamosa, Colorado (4.2 inches on October 21), and North Platte, Nebraska (4.2 inches on October 22).  The storm helped to propel North Platte to its snowiest October on record (18.0 inches; previously, 15.7 inches in 1969). 

Snow also blanketed northern New England on October 22, when Caribou, Maine, received 6.1 inches.  Rainfall records for October 22 included 3.98 inches in Alexandria, Louisiana; 2.23 inches in Des Moines, Iowa; and 1.90 inches in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  Through October 24, the month-to-date rainfall in St. Louis, Missouri, climbed to 8.55 inches (417 percent of normal), surpassing its October 1919 standard of 8.52 inches.  During the same period, month-to-date sums of 12.08 inches in Monticello, Arkansas, 10.09 inches in San Antonio, Texas, and 6.22 inches in Rochester, Minnesota, represented the second-highest October totals on record, behind 15.29 inches in 1984, 18.07 inches in 1998, and 9.11 inches in 1911, respectively. 

Rochester also achieved its second-snowiest October (7.9 inches; behind only 10.0 inches in 1887), aided by a 4.1-inch total on October 23. 

Late in the week, heavy rain shifted into the Great Lakes and Eastern States, while a temporary spell of favorable dryness overspread much of the remainder of the U.S.  Grand Rapids, Michigan (1.92 inches), received a daily-record rainfall for October 23, followed the next day by record-setting totals in locations such as St. Johnsbury, Vermont (2.07 inches), and Bridgeport, Connecticut (1.94 inches).

Frosty conditions prevailed early in the week as far south as the interior South, resulting in daily-record lows for October 18 in Fayetteville, Arkansas (29 degrees Fahrenheit), and Pinson, Alabama (31 degrees Fahrenheit).  In North Carolina, high temperatures remained below 50 degrees Fahrenheit on an October day for the first time on record in New Bern and Morehead City; both sites reached 49 degrees Fahrenheit on October 18.  Pinson (30 degrees Fahrenheit) posted another daily-record low on October 19,
along with Crossville, Tennessee (29 degrees Fahrenheit), and Charlotte, North Carolina (30 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Farther west, warmth briefly surged northward in advance of a developing Western storm.  Pueblo, Colorado (88 degrees Fahrenheit), registered a daily-record high for October 18,
followed the next day by records in Texas locations such as Borger
(92 degrees Fahrenheit) and Amarillo (90 degrees Fahrenheit).  By week's end, warmth temporarily shifted into the East, where records for October 24 included 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Daytona Beach, Florida, and 83 degrees Fahrenheit in Georgetown, Delaware.  In Chicago, Illinois, however, the highest temperature during the first 24 days of the month was 69 degrees Fahrenheit on October 21.  The only years Chicago failed to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit during October were 1885 and 1917.

Mild, dry weather prevailed across much of the Alaskan mainland.  On
October 23, Delta Junction (51 degrees Fahrenheit) collected a daily-record high.  Through October 24, Fairbanks continued to await its first measurable snowfall; the only years Fairbanks had no accumulating October snowfall were 1914 and 1925.  Meanwhile, widespread precipitation fell across the State's southern tier, where Kodiak netted a daily-record rainfall of 2.22 inches on October 22.  Farther south, warm weather prevailed in Hawaii, while northbound Hurricane Neki passed west of the State's inhabited islands. 

Hawaiian daily-record highs included 92 degrees Fahrenheit (on October 21) in Kahului, Maui, and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (on October 20) in Honolulu, Oahu.  On the Big Island, Hilo's weekly rainfall of 1.70 inches boosted its October 1-24 total to 8.39 inches (122 percent of normal).

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

Agricultural Summary: October 19 - 25, 2009

Highlights:  Temperatures during the week were warmer than normal across much of the country west of the Rocky Mountains and from the eastern Corn Belt toward the Atlantic Coast.  Conversely, cool temperatures prevailed throughout the Great Plains, Delta, and Southeast. 

Storm systems continued to deliver above average rainfall to much of the country, further limiting fieldwork and slowing growth in the 2010 winter wheat crop.  Weekly accumulations totaled upward of 400 percent of normal throughout much of the already saturated Great Plains, Corn Belt, and Delta, while several locations in the Rocky Mountains had precipitation totals more than 800 percent of
normal. 

Elsewhere, drier weather returned to much of the Pacific Coast,
Southwest, and Southeast, allowing producers to make some progress in harvesting delayed summer crops.

Corn:  Crop maturity advanced 7 points during the week.  At 90 percent complete, progress was 6 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average.  Development to maturity was most active in the Great Lakes and Indiana where average temperatures were warmer than normal.  Harvest advanced to 20 percent, 17 points behind last year and 38 points, or over 3 weeks, behind the average.  With the exceptions of Kentucky and Tennessee, harvest was slow across much of the growing region as soggy fields and continued rainfall limited fieldwork.  Overall, 69 percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from ratings last
week but 5 points better than last year.

Soybeans:  Harvest advanced to 44 percent complete, 31 points behind last year and 36 points, or over 2 weeks, behind the 5-year average.  Harvest was most active in Ohio where producers utilized 5 days suitable for fieldwork to combine 41 percent of their crop during the week.  Overall, 65 percent of the soybean crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week.

Winter Wheat:  Nationally, producers had seeded 76 percent of the 2010 winter wheat crop, 6 points behind last year and 9 points behind the 5-year average.  Seeding was most active in the Corn Belt and Ohio during the week following the rapid harvest of the delayed soybean crop.  By October 25, fifty-nine percent of the crop had emerged, 7 points behind both last year and the average.  The most significant delays were evident in Illinois and Indiana where crop development was 41 points behind normal.  Overall, 62 percent of
the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, 3 points below ratings last year.

Cotton:  Acreage with bolls opened advanced to 91 percent, 1 point ahead of last year but on par with the 5-year average.  Despite progress of at least 6 percent during the week, development to the opened bolls stage remained 10 points or more behind normal in Alabama, Kansas, and Missouri.  Producers had harvested 19 percent of the Nation's acreage by week's end, 19 points behind last year and 24 points, or over 3 weeks, behind the average.  Harvest
delays of 57 points or more were evident in the Delta and Tennessee where fieldwork remained limited because of additional rainfall and saturated fields.  Overall, 44 percent of the cotton crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but down 4 points from last year.

Sorghum:  Coloring advanced to 95 percent complete, 3 points behind last year and 4 points behind the 5-year average.  Coloring was complete or nearly complete in all States except Texas where progress was over 3 weeks behind normal as cool temperatures slowed development.  Crop maturity reached 79 percent by October 25, three points behind last year and 9 points behind the average.  Progress was behind normal in all estimating States except
Arkansas and Louisiana where the entire crop had matured.  Harvested advanced to 42 percent complete, 6 points behind last year and 18 points behind the 5-year average.  Delays of 2 weeks or more were evident in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.  Overall, 47 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 9 points below last year.

Rice:  Harvest advanced to 85 percent complete by week's end, 9 points behind last year and 11 points behind the 5-year average.  Delays of 17 points or more were evident throughout much of the Delta.  In Arkansas, harvest remained over 2 weeks behind normal as producers struggled to harvest 14 percent of their crop during the week before additional storm systems dumped more rainfall on their fields.

Other Crops:  Forty-seven percent of the peanut crop was harvested by October 25, seventeen points behind last year and 16 points behind the 5-year average.  Despite an active harvest pace, double-digit delays remained across much of the growing region.  Overall, 67 percent of the peanut crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from ratings last week.

Sugarbeet producers harvested 14 percent of their crop during the week, leaving progress, at 67 percent, 6 points behind last year and 13 points behind the 5-year average.  Overall progress was over 1 week behind normal in Minnesota and North Dakota, the largest and third largest sugarbeet-producing States, respectively.

Sunflower harvest advanced to 12 percent complete by week's end, 9 points behind last year and 27 points, or over 2 weeks, behind the 5-year average.  In North Dakota, the largest sunflower-producing state, producers were able to harvest just 1 percent of their crop as continued rainfall and muddy fields allowed 2 days suitable for fieldwork.