sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: May 2, 2011 Week Ending Date: May 1, 2011 Issue: SC-CW001711 GENERAL Warm temperatures on Monday brought showers early Tuesday to the State for the week ending May 1, 2011. Some areas saw storm cells with severe weather while the Midlands received very little precipitation in the form of "Sunshowers", a phenomena when rain falls through sunshine. Late afternoon storms would continue through the week until Thursday. Another severe weather system passed through the state, producing an EF1 tornado near Fort Motte and another EF1 tornado near Sumter, both causing light property damage. Hail and intense localized rains swept through the northeastern part of the State as a result of this system, although very light crop damage or flooding was recorded. Cooler weather and sunny skies followed on Friday and Saturday, allowing farm operators to resume planting. Sunday ended the week with sunny, warm weather. The State average temperature for the period was six degrees above normal. Soil moisture levels were reported at 2% very short, 17% short, 74% adequate, and 7% surplus. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches. There was an average of 5.8 days suitable for field work. FIELD CROPS Ninety-nine percent of CORN had been planted with 88% of the crop emerged, remaining ahead the five year average. Conditions were 19% fair, 68% good, and 13% excellent. WINTER WHEAT continued to head with 92% headed, maintaining position ahead of the five year average. Eleven percent of the crop had begun to turn color. Conditions were 13% fair, 74% good, and 13% excellent. Ninety-seven percent of OATS had headed and 18% had begun to turn color. Conditions were reported as 3% poor, 14% fair, 74% good, and 9% excellent. TOBACCO transplanting was almost completed at 96% transplanted. COTTON planting picked up rapidly with 20% of the crop planted. PEANUT and SOYBEAN planting did not get much attention this week with both at 7% planted. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST LIVESTOCK conditions were 17% fair, 79% good, and 4% excellent. PASTURES were 4% poor, 23% fair, 71% good, and 2% excellent. PEACH conditions were 22% fair, 72% good, and 6% excellent. SNAPBEANS planted continued to lag behind the five-year average with only 65% planted. TOMATO planting has almost concluded with 98% of the crop planted, on pace with the five-year average. Seventy-eight percent of CUCUMBERS had been planted, still well behind the five-year average. Conditions were 60% fair, 22% good, and 18% excellent. CANTALOUP planting rebounded ahead of the five-year average with 88% planted at the end of the week. Conditions were 46% fair, 42% good, and 12% excellent. WATERMELON planting neared completion with 94% planted. Conditions were 49% fair, 48% good, and 3% excellent. Crop Progress for Week Ending May 1, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Planted : 88 89 83 :: Peanuts, Planted : 7 6 7 Corn, Planted : 99 99 97 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Planted : 65 83 84 Corn, Emerged : 88 89 82 :: Soybeans, Planted : 7 9 7 Cotton, Planted : 20 13 12 :: Tobacco, Transplanted : 96 96 87 Cucumbers, Fresh, Planted : 78 96 86 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Planted : 98 97 97 Hay, Grain Hay, Harvested : 37 49 39 :: Watermelons, Planted : 94 93 88 Oats, Headed : 97 84 87 :: Winter Wheat, Headed : 92 89 85 Oats, Turned Color : 18 4 10 :: Winter Wheat, Turning Color : 11 2 6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending May 1, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup : 0 0 46 42 12 :: Peaches : 0 0 22 72 6 Corn : 0 0 19 68 13 :: Snapbeans : 0 0 48 32 20 Cucumbers : 0 0 60 22 18 :: Tobacco : 0 0 41 56 3 Hay : 0 10 21 64 5 :: Tomatoes : 0 0 52 37 11 Livestock : 0 0 17 79 4 :: Watermelons : 0 0 49 48 3 Oats : 0 3 14 74 9 :: Winter Wheat : 0 0 13 74 13 Pasture : 0 4 23 71 2 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending May 1, 2011 Warm southerly winds were responsible for Cades and the Marlboro County Jetport reaching 88 degrees on Monday afternoon. A few late afternoon showers developed over the State's northwest corner. On Tuesday, showers expanded in coverage with some cells containing lightning. "Sunshowers", a phenomena when rain falls through sunshine, was observed across the Midlands. Dillon reported a 24-hour heavy rainfall amount of 1.60 inches. Ft. Moultrie measured 0.83 inches and Summerville received 0.73 inches. At 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the Charleston City Waterfront Park reported south winds at 20 mph, gusting to 29 mph. Stormy weather swept through the State on Thursday morning. At 7:40 a.m., an EF1 tornado touched down near Ft. Motte causing light property damage. Only ten minutes later, another EF1 tornado affected the Millwood community just south of Sumter. Storm cells, with cloud tops of 55 thousand feet, produced hail and localized intense rains as they sped northeastward at 64 mph. Pelion measured 1.62 inches of rain. At 2:00 p.m. and ahead of the cold front, Myrtle Beach reported south winds of 29 mph, gusting to 38 mph. Friday arrived under clear blue skies and much cooler temperatures. On Saturday morning, Johnston recorded 45 degrees and at Walterboro, it was 50 degrees. April 2011 rainfall totals ranged from 5.15 inches at Ft. Mill to 1.57 inches at Winnsboro. Sunny, warm weather ended the week with afternoon temperatures in the upper 70's and lower 80's. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 89 degrees at Barnwell on April 26, at Columbia, Aiken and Barnwell on April 27 and at Givhans on April 30. The lowest official temperature reported was 41 degrees at Walhalla on April 30. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.63 inches at Aiken ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 28. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 72 degrees, Charleston 75 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 71 degrees. Precipitation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Total : Total : Deviation : for Week : for 2011 : from Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer : 0.08 16.72 -0.9 Anderson : 0.02 13.97 -3.2 Columbia : 0.67 12.67 -3.5 Orangeburg : 1.17 13.08 -3.0 Charlotte, NC : 0.18 12.64 -2.4 Augusta, GA : 1.08 13.80 -2.4 Florence : 1.06 12.27 -1.7 N Myrtle Beach : 0.00 10.01 -3.1 Charleston : 0.03 9.78 -4.2 Savannah, GA : 0.56 11.53 -2.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.