sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: May 16, 2011 Week Ending Date: May 15, 2011 Issue: SC-CW001911 GENERAL Typical May weather began the week ending May 15th, 2011. Cooler temperatures were present in the morning, followed by afternoon temperatures reaching up to 94 degrees in some areas. A storm system moved into the State on Tuesday night leading to a widespread and damaging hail event on Wednesday. The Rock Hill area recorded winds gusting to 62 miles per hour, while softball sized hail was reported in Georgetown County. Minor crop damage was reported along with moderate property damage. Stable weather returned Thursday with temperatures in the upper 80's in most areas. Mid-day thunderstorms returned Saturday, with the Columbia Airport measuring 1.02 inches of rain as well as reports of hail in the Socastee area. The storm system left the State by Sunday and was followed by sunny, cool conditions in the low 80's. The State average temperature for the period was six degrees above normal. Soil moisture levels were reported at 6% very short, 26% short, 64% adequate, and 4% surplus. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches. There were an average of 6.1 days suitable for field work, allowing farm operators to make progress in planting field crops. FIELD CROPS Ninety nine percent of the CORN acreage has emerged with conditions set at 1% very poor, 2% poor, 18% fair, 70% good, and 9% excellent. COTTON planting was 49% completed, exactly on schedule with the five year average but 12 points behind last year. PEANUT planting was 32% completed, almost back to the five year average pace. SOYBEAN planting rebounded, with 34% planted, 12 points ahead of the five year average. Twelve percent of the crop had emerged, slightly ahead of the five year average. WINTER WHEAT was 60% turning color, well ahead of the five year average. The warm, dry conditions also pushed to 6% of the crop ripe. Conditions were 1% poor, 14% fair, 71% good, and 14% excellent. Ninety-nine percent of the OATS acreage had headed with 68% turning color. OATS were also 9% ripe, ahead of the five year average by 2 points. Conditions were 1% very poor, 3% poor, 22% fair, 69% good, and 3% excellent. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Ninety eight percent of WATERMELON planting had been completed with conditions set at 32% fair, 65% good, and 3% excellent. PEACH conditions were 9% fair, 87% good, and 4% excellent. CUCUMBER planting was almost completed with 97% planted, 1 point ahead of the five year average, but 2 points behind last year. Two percent of the crop had been harvested, indicating an early start based on last year and the five year averages. Conditions were 23% fair, 75% good, and 2% excellent. SNAPBEANS recovered this week with 97% planted, on pace with the five year average. TOMATO planting has concluded for the season with 100% of the crop planted, 1 point ahead of last year and the five year average. CANTALOUP planting stayed 3 points ahead of the five- year average with 97% planted by the end of the week. Conditions were 31% fair, 66% good, and 3% excellent. LIVESTOCK conditions were 15% fair, 82% good, and 3% excellent. PASTURES were 4% very poor, 2% poor, 22% fair, 69% good, and 3% excellent. Crop Progress for Week Ending May 15, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2011 : 2010 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Planted : 97 93 94 :: Peanuts, Planted : 32 37 36 Corn, Emerged : 99 97 96 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Planted : 97 97 98 Cotton, Planted : 49 61 49 :: Soybeans, Planted : 34 32 22 Cucumbers, Fresh, Planted : 97 99 96 :: Soybeans, Emerged : 12 23 9 Cucumbers, Fresh, Harvested : 2 0 0 :: Tobacco, Transplanted : 99 99 99 Hay, Grain Hay, Harvested : 71 66 70 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Planted : 100 99 99 Oats, Headed : 99 99 99 :: Watermelons, Planted : 98 97 96 Oats, Turned Color : 68 67 57 :: Winter Wheat, Turning Color : 60 53 47 Oats, Ripe : 9 5 7 :: Winter Wheat, Ripe : 6 4 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending May 15, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup : 0 0 31 66 3 :: Peaches : 0 0 9 87 4 Corn : 1 2 18 70 9 :: Snapbeans : 0 0 34 60 6 Cucumbers : 0 0 23 75 2 :: Tobacco : 0 5 22 68 5 Livestock : 0 0 15 82 3 :: Tomatoes : 0 0 38 60 2 Oats : 1 3 13 75 8 :: Watermelons : 0 0 32 65 3 Pasture : 4 2 22 69 3 :: Winter Wheat : 0 1 14 71 14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending May 15, 2011 Much like typical May weather, the week started with cool mornings and warm afternoons. High temperatures on Tuesday climbed to 90 degrees for Clemson and Greenwood. A complex convective system charged into the State from the northwest Tuesday night and into Wednesday evening. A widespread and damaging hail event developed for parts of the Piedmont and eastward to the central coast. At 2:39 a.m. on Wednesday, Wilmington NWS Doppler radar indicated storm cells moving southeast at 55 mph. The Rock Hill AP measured winds gusting to 62 mph. Hail up to the size of softballs pummeled the community of Sampit, in Georgetown County, Conway, in Horry County and near Hanna, in Florence County. At 5:55 p.m., the crossroads at Evergreen observed baseball-sized hail that covered the ground. Brief periods of intense rain left 1.59 inches at Lake Wylie and 1.43 inches at the Georgetown AP. More stable weather returned for Thursday under sunny skies and 88 degrees reported at Clarks Hill and Saluda. Although Walterboro warmed to 91 degrees on Friday, more thundershowers formed across the southern counties in the lingering, tropical-like airmass. Saturday's weather included mid-day thunderstorms for parts of central South Carolina and another round of large hail at Socastee. The Columbia Hamilton-Owens AP received 1.02 inches of rain. The exiting stormy weather was replaced by mostly sunny, cool conditions on Sunday. McCormick, Florence and Charleston City all recorded an 81-degree Sunday afternoon high temperature. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 94 degrees at Lake Wateree, Hardeeville and the USC Campus on May 10 and at Bamberg and Barnwell on May 13. The lowest official temperature reported was 50 degrees at Walhalla on May 15. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.22 inches at the Myrtle Beach FD ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 11. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees, Charleston 78 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 74 degrees. Precipitation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Total : Total : Deviation : for Week : for 2011 : from Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer : 0.15 17.66 -2.0 Anderson : 0.01 14.49 -4.5 Columbia : 0.40 14.44 -3.0 Orangeburg : 0.56 14.19 -3.2 Charlotte, NC : 0.85 14.34 -2.3 Augusta, GA : 0.08 14.03 -3.5 Florence : 0.78 13.47 -1.9 N Myrtle Beach : 2.74 13.62 -0.8 Charleston : 0.25 10.18 -5.2 Savannah, GA : 0.02 11.69 -3.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.