Weekly Weather
and Crop Bulletin
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
Released April 28, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For
information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Julie Schmidt at (202)
720-7621, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
National Weather Summary
April 19 - 25, 2009
Highlights: Showers fell early in the week and again at week's end in the
Midwest, but several warm, dry days between rain events allowed producers to
make progress planting summer crops. Corn planting was especially active in
the relatively drier upper Midwest. Meanwhile, generally dry weather across
the South also promoted an acceleration of fieldwork, including corn, cotton,
rice, and soybean planting. Farther west, several days of warm, dry weather
on the Plains favored winter wheat growth and promoted summer crop planting.
Fieldwork finally commenced in parts of the Dakotas, although cool, damp
conditions returned to the north-central United States toward week's end.
Elsewhere, a record-setting, early-season heat wave in the West was replaced
by markedly cooler weather late in the week. Snow accompanied the surge of
cool air across the northern Rockies and northern Intermountain West. The
cool air brought scattered freezes to the Northwestern fruit belt on
April 24-25, and resulted in lows ranging from 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in
winter wheat areas of western and central Montana on April 24. Prior to the
arrival of the late-week chill, the warmest weather of the year affected much
of the United States. From April 20-22, readings above 100 degrees
Fahrenheit were common in the Desert Southwest. On April 23, temperatures
surged to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher as far north as South Dakota. By
week's end (April 25), readings also topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of
the Mid-Atlantic region. As warmth expanded across the nation, the pace of
fieldwork and crop development accelerated. Despite the end-of week cooling
trend, temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in
California and the Desert Southwest. Weekly readings also averaged as much
as 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal on the southern Plains.
Early in the week, record-setting warmth intensified across the West. In
southern California, daily-record highs for April 20 reached 103 degrees
Fahrenheit in Riverside and Santa Ana. The following day, Thermal
(107 degrees Fahreneheit) posted a daily-record high for April 21. In the
San Francisco Bay area, monthly record highs were attained on April 20 in
locations such as San Jose (95 degrees Fahrenheit; tied 95 degrees Fahrenheit
on April 9, 1989, and April 30, 1996) and the Oakland Airport (91 degrees
Fahrenheit; previously, 88 degrees Fahrenheit on April 23, 1966, and
April 26 and 27, 2004). Additional monthly records were set in California on
April 21, when highs soared to 104 degrees Fahrenheit in King City
(previously, 102 degrees Fahrenheit on April 29, 1981, and April 26, 2004)
and 101 degrees Fahrenheit in Gilroy (previously, 100 degrees Fahrenheit on
April 30, 1981). In California's San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield notched
consecutive daily-record highs (99 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit) on April 21-22.
By mid-week, heat reached the south-central U.S., where records for April 22
in Texas climbed to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Wichita Falls and 90 degrees
Fahrenheit in Houston. The average date of Houston's first 90-degree reading
is May 3. During the second half of the week, unusually warm conditions
overspread the Midwest, South, and East. On April 23, daily-record highs
surged to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Academy, SD, and 92 degrees Fahrenheit in
Sioux City, IA. Rochester, MN, posted a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit on
April 4, edging its monthly standard of 91 degrees Fahrenheit set on
April 21 and 22, 1980. It was also Rochester's first 90-degree reading since
September 17, 2007. Later, April 25 highs of 93 degrees Fahrenheit in
Georgetown, DE; 92 degrees Fahrenheit in Raleigh-Durham, NC; and 90 degrees
Fahrenheit in Concord, NH, were among dozens of late-week Eastern records.
In stark contrast, cold weather returned to the northern Plains and the
Northwest, accompanied by some late-season snow. On April 24, daily-record
lows in Montana dipped to 5 degrees Fahrenheit in Cut Bank and 11 degrees
Fahrenheit in Great Falls. Prior to the arrival of the coldest weather,
Great Falls received 2.6 inches of snow on April 23-24. In the Black Hills
of South Dakota, East Rapid City's April 24-26 snowfall of 9.7 inches boosted
its season-to-date total to a record-high 90.2 inches (previously,
80.3 inches in 1969-70).
During the first half of the week, snow blanketed the upper Great Lakes
region, while heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms peppered the
East. On April 19, a deadly tornado claimed one life in Marshall County, AL.
The following day, record rainfall totals for April20 included 2.10 inches in
Newark, NJ, and 1.89 inches at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Meanwhile, both
Marquette, MI (10.6 and 9.9 inches), and Rhinelander, WI (6.9 and
3.3 inches), netted consecutive daily-record snowfall totals on April 20-21.
Later, stormy weather returned to the northern half of the West and the
nation's mid-section. On April 24, daily-record precipitation totals
included 0.52 inch in Eureka, NV, and 4.72 inches at Houston's Hobby Airport
in Texas. The next day, record totals for April 25 reached 2.15 inches in
Dubuque, IA; 1.94 inches in Madison, WI; and 1.40 inches in Grand Rapids,
MI.
Cool, showery weather prevailed in Hawaii. During the first 25 days of
April, temperatures ranged from 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal at
both Lihue, Kauai, and Hilo, on the Big Island. In fact, Lihue last
experienced an above-normal daily average temperature on February 13. By
April 26, the long-running Hawaiian cool spell culminated in daily-record
lows of 56 degrees Fahrenheit in Kahului, Maui; 59 degrees Fahrenheit in
Hilo; and 60 degrees Fahrenheit in Lihue. On the Big Island, weekly rainfall
totaled 4.51 inches in Hilo and 12.69 inches in Laupahoehoe. Elsewhere,
24-hour totals included 4.88 inches (on April 20-21) at Waimanalo, Oahu, and
8.99 inches at West Wailuaiki, Maui. Farther north, occasional showers
dampened Alaska, accompanied by near-normal temperatures. Bettles
(0.66 inch) collected a daily-record precipitation total for April 23.
Fairbanks noted its first measurable precipitation of the month (0.09 inch)
on April 23. However, April is climatologically Fairbanks' driest month of
the year, with an average total of 0.21 inch.
National Weather Summary provided by USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board.
For more information, call (202) 720-2397.
Agricultural Summary
April 20 - 26, 2009
Highlights: While much of the Nation received precipitation totaling 1 inch
or less, areas along the Upper Coast of Texas recorded more than 8 inches of
rainfall, or greater than 800 percent of normal. Spring storms battered
parts of the Great Lakes, northern Corn Belt, and New England, dumping up to
4 inches of precipitation and leaving total accumulations for the week
between 200 and 800 percent of normal in some locations. Warmer than normal
temperatures prevailed across much of the country, providing ideal planting
conditions for many producers and allowing for significant progress in
several States. In contrast, a few areas along the upper Pacific Coast, in
the northern Great Plains, and in the Great Lakes recorded below normal
temperatures, reaching as many as 5 degrees below normal in Minnesota.
Corn: Producers made significant planting progress as warm temperatures
coupled with strong winds helped dry out wet soils, allowing fieldwork to
proceed at a rapid pace. By week's end, 22 percent of the 2009 corn crop was
in the ground, 13 points ahead of last year, but 6 points behind the 5-year
average pace. In Iowa, the largest corn-producing State, planting progress
was aided by favorable conditions, allowing producers to plant 41 percent of
their crop during the week. A large increase was also reported in Minnesota
where producers planted 40 percent of their crop.
Soybeans: Growers had planted 3 percent of their acreage, 1 point ahead of
last year, but 2 points behind the normal pace. Planting was underway in
Iowa and Minnesota, two of the three largest soybean-producing States, ahead
of last year and the average pace by 2 points and 1 point, respectively. In
the Delta, planting progress was at or behind the average pace. Limited
planting activity had occurred in Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Winter Wheat: Heading advanced to 21 percent, 7 points ahead of last year,
but 2 points slower than the average. Development over the past week was
evident in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Arkansas where 41 percent,
28 percent, and 27 percent of the crop matured during the week, respectively.
Overall, 45 percent of the Nation's winter wheat crop was rated in good to
excellent condition, compared with 43 percent a week ago and 46 percent last
year.
Cotton: Nationwide, producers had planted 16 percent of their cotton
acreage, 3 points behind the previous year and 4 points behind normal.
Planting progress gained speed across the Delta as warm, windy conditions
dried soggy fields. Producers in the Plains of Texas made field
preparations, as planting in Georgia was underway but behind last year's and
the average pace.
Sorghum: Twenty-eight percent of 2009's sorghum acreage was planted by
week's end, 2 points behind last year, but on par with the 5-year average.
Kansas producers had yet to begin planting, while 61 percent of the acreage
in Texas was in the ground, 4 points behind the pace in 2008, but 3 points
ahead of normal.
Rice: Producers had seeded 47 percent of this year's rice acreage, 4 points
ahead of last year, but 9 points behind the 5-year average pace. At
36 percent, Missouri producers seeded the largest percentage of acres during
the week. Arkansas and Mississippi producers also made significant progress
during the week, seeding 21 percent of their 2009 acreage. In Louisiana,
producers planted 14 percent of their crop during the week, advancing
progress to 79 percent, 6 points behind last year and 2 points behind the
average. Twenty-one percent of the crop had emerged, 1 point ahead of last
year, but 9 points behind the normal pace.
Small Grains: Spring wheat seeding was more than a week behind last year's
and the average pace. Nationally, producers had sown 15 percent of the
spring wheat crop compared to 32 percent in 2008 and 36 percent for the
average. With a week of dry weather and warmer than normal temperatures,
noteworthy progress was made in South Dakota and Washington with producers
seeding 24 and 20 percent of their acreage during the past week,
respectively. Emergence was evident in 2 percent of the crop compared with
4 percent in 2008 and 9 percent for the 5-year average.
Seventeen percent of the Nation's barley acreage was sown by April 26,
15 points behind last year and 17 points behind normal. Planting began in
North Dakota, the largest barley-producing State, but progress was more than
a week behind last year's and the normal pace. Washington producers took
advantage of drying fields and planted 19 percent of their crop during the
week.
Nationwide, producers had sown 61 percent of the oat acreage, 9 points ahead
of last year, but 4 points slower than the average pace. Above normal
temperatures coupled with below normal precipitation allowed producers in
North Dakota to begin seeding this year's oat crop although planting remained
over 2 weeks behind the normal pace. Emergence advanced to 37 percent,
5 points ahead of last year, but 3 points behind the 5-year average. Iowa's
crop showed the most development, progressing 26 percent during the week.
Other Crops: Peanut producers had planted 2 percent of their crop, equaling
last year's pace, but 1 point behind the average. Planting progress lagged
the normal pace in all States except Florida and North Carolina, and was not
yet underway in Alabama, South Carolina, or Virginia.
By week's end, 31 percent of this year's sugarbeets were planted, equaling
the progress made a year ago, but 16 points behind the 5-year average pace.
Planting had started in North Dakota, 7 points behind the previous year and
26 points, or more than one week, behind normal. With nearly an entire week
of days suitable for fieldwork, a considerable amount of planting was done in
Idaho. However, progress lagged last year and the average.
Corn: Percent Planted,
Selected States 1/
--------------------------------------
: Week Ending :
:-----------------------: 2004-
State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 2008
: 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg.
--------------------------------------
: Percent
:
CO : 13 8 15 15
IL : 4 1 5 43
IN : 2 0 9 25
IA : 47 6 3 25
KS : 22 8 17 38
KY : 20 4 28 57
MI : 3 2 10 16
MN : 40 0 1 18
MO : 27 7 7 55
NE : 27 3 8 18
NC : 69 37 66 77
ND : 0 0 3 10
OH : 4 2 8 26
PA : 7 1 18 15
SD : 3 0 4 8
TN : 37 11 45 71
TX : 74 60 65 71
WI : 6 1 1 9
:
18 Sts: 22 5 9 28
--------------------------------------
1/ These 18 States planted 92% of
last year's corn acreage.
Soybeans: Percent Planted,
Selected States 1/
--------------------------------------
: Week Ending :
:-----------------------: 2004-
State:Apr 26,:Apr 19,:Apr 26,: 2008
: 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : Avg.
--------------------------------------
: Percent
:
AR : 12 NA 8 17
IL : 0 NA 0 2
IN : 0 NA 0 4
IA : 2 NA 0 1
KS : 0 NA 0 2
KY : 0 NA 2 3
LA : 34 NA 46 34
MI : 0 NA 1 4
MN : 2 NA 0 1
MS : 33 NA 43 57
MO : 1 NA 0 4
NE : 0 NA 0 1
NC : 3 NA 2 2
ND : 0 NA 0 0
OH : 0 NA 0 8
SD : 0 NA 0 0
TN : 1 NA 0 3
WI : 0 NA 0 1
:
18 Sts: 3 NA 2 5
--------------------------------------
1/ These 18 States planted 95% of
last year's soybean acreage.
