sc-crop-weather South Carolina Weekly Weather and Crop Progress Report Released: July 2, 2012 Week Ending Date: July 1, 2012 Issue: SC-CW002712 GENERAL Record temperatures arrived during the last week in June. The week ending July 1, 2012 began with mild temperatures with a slow warming trend. On Thursday, June 28, the heat wave began over most parts of the State and did not abate until Sunday. Preliminary data showed an all-time State record temperature of 113 degrees measured at the Columbia and Johnston weather stations. Temperatures in the triple digits were plentiful through the weekend for the State with no rainfall until Sunday. A severe thunderstorm moved southeast through the State on Sunday showering rain and damaging hailstones up to 2.00 inches in certain areas. Crops, pastures and livestock all suffered under the stress of the prolonged heat. Soil moisture conditions plunged to 15% very short, 43% short, 41% adequate and 1% surplus. The State average temperature for the period was three degrees above normal with 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.8 inches. FIELD CROPS SOYBEANS were 97% planted and 92% emerged by the end of the week. Four percent of the crop had begun to show blooms. Conditions suffered in the heat and were reported as 1% very poor, 7% poor, 35% fair, 56% good and 1% excellent. Ninety-nine percent of OATS and 98% of WINTER WHEAT were harvested. TOBACCO was 50% topped, 6 points behind the five year average. Conditions declined to 1% very poor, 4% poor, 38% fair, 55% good and 2% excellent. Ninety-three percent of CORN had silked and 55% of the crop had doughed by Sunday. Six percent of the crop was reported as mature. Conditions were 2% poor, 30% fair, 58% good and 10% excellent. COTTON planting was completed by the end of the week and 42% of the crop had squared. The crop has just begun to set bolls. Conditions were favorable at 2% poor, 19% fair, 73% good and 6% excellent. All PEANUTS were planted with 10% pegged. Conditions declined to 1% very poor, 2% poor, 31% fair, 62% good and 4% excellent. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Eighty percent of TOMATOES had been harvested, 6 points ahead of last year. WATERMELON and CANTALOUP harvest continued with 40% and 39% harvested respectively. Seventy-eight percent of CUCUMBERS had been harvested, 15 points behind the five year average. The SNAPBEAN harvest was 71% complete, 4 points behind last year. PEACH harvest continued with 58% harvested by the end of the week, 15 points ahead of last year. Conditions declined to 1% poor, 50% fair, 46% good and 3% excellent. PASTURE conditions fell to 1% very poor, 11% poor, 45% fair and 43% good. LIVESTOCK conditions were also under stress at 2% poor, 33% fair, 64% good and 1% excellent. Crop Progress for Week Ending July 1, 2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop and Stage : 2012 : 2011 :5-Yr Avg :: Crop and Stage : 2012 : 2011 :5-Yr Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup, Harvested : 39 54 51 :: Peaches, Harvested : 58 43 35 Corn, Silked : 93 94 90 :: Peanuts, Pegged : 35 30 35 Corn, Doughed : 55 23 29 :: Snapbeans, Fresh, Harvested : 71 75 76 Corn, Matured : 6 0 0 :: Soybeans, Planted : 97 95 97 Cotton, Planted : 100 100 100 :: Soybeans, Emerged : 92 82 86 Cotton, Squared : 42 45 40 :: Soybeans, Bloomed : 4 0 0 Cotton, Bolls Set : 1 11 4 :: Tobacco, Topped : 50 73 56 Cucumbers, Fresh, Harvested : 78 93 93 :: Tomatoes, Fresh, Harvested : 80 74 65 Hay, Other Hay, Harvested : 54 0 0 :: Watermelons, Harvested : 40 54 45 Oats, Harvested : 99 100 99 :: Winter Wheat, Harvested : 98 100 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condition for Week Ending July 1, 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent :: Crop :Very Poor: Poor : Fair : Good : Excellent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : Cantaloup : 0 6 57 37 0 :: Peaches : 0 1 50 46 3 Corn : 0 2 30 58 10 :: Peanuts : 0 2 33 61 4 Cotton : 1 2 31 62 4 :: Soybeans : 1 7 35 56 1 Hay : 0 1 47 51 1 :: Tobacco : 1 4 38 55 2 Livestock : 0 2 33 64 1 :: Watermelons : 0 1 64 30 5 Pasture : 1 11 45 43 0 :: : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Carolina Weekly Weather Summary for the Week Ending July 1, 2012 The outermost rain bands from a weakening Tropical Storm Debby, located along the Florida panhandle, eased northward into the Lowcountry on Monday with a few localized heavy rains. The Charleston City gage measured 2.78 inches while the Sullivan's Island gage measured 2.67 inches. Coastal wind speeds between the distant tropical feature and strong high pressure expanding southeast reached 40 mph at Springmaid Pier and at Folly Island, on Tuesday. A drying and cooler airmass entered the State overnight. On Wednesday morning, date record low temperatures were set at Florence (58), N Myrtle Beach (58) and Charleston AP (62). At 4:00 p.m., both the Greenville- Spartanburg AP and Shaw AFB reported a relative humidity value of just 23 percent. The mercury reversed its direction on Thursday with many locations warming into the upper 90's. At 7:00 p.m., the Columbia Metro AP reported 98 degrees with only 18 percent relative humidity. Friday's rare desert-like climate set the stage for record high temperatures for parts of the Midlands and Upstate. Both the University of South Carolina campus and Johnston observed 113 degrees, which may qualify as a new State record. The Columbia Hamilton-Owens AP baked under an afternoon high temperature of 110 degrees. The Columbia Metro AP recorded 109 degrees for that location's highest temperature of recordkeeping. Other notable maximum temperatures on Friday included 109 at Sandhill, 108 at McCormick, 107 at Shaw AFB and Little Mountain, 106 at Bishopville and Darlington, and 105 at Anderson AP and Florence. The Sandhill Experiment Station measured a 24-hour open pan evaporation water loss of 0.45 inches. At 6:00 p.m., the Columbia Metro AP noted 108 degrees with just 15 percent relative humidity. The discomfort of the heat did not abate on Saturday as more water vapor was introduced into the air. Saturday's afternoon temperatures climbed to 108 at Clarks Hill, 107 at Barnwell, 106 at Hartsville and 105 at Pinopolis. June 2012 ended with a rainfall range of 11.38 inches at Givhans Ferry to 1.24 inches at the Greenville-Spartanburg AP. More sweltering heat was observed into the afternoon hours of Sunday. Clinton reached 109 degrees. Saluda reported 108 degrees and the Clemson AP 107 degrees. The Greenville-Spartanburg airport's 107 degrees marked that value as their all-time record highest. Heat- cancelling thunderstorms developed over the northern counties during the afternoon hours and moved southeast. Most of the storm cells contained hailstones. The counties of Spartanburg, Chesterfield, Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick, Bamberg and Williamsburg all reported hail sizes of 1.75 inches in diameter and at least 2.00-inch diameter stones pummeled Pageland and Gilbert. The 4:55 p.m. temperature of 99 degrees at Shaw AFB in Sumter fell to 77 degrees at 5:55 p.m. following a thunderstorm. Storm cells over the McEntire ANG AP soaked the area with 2.34 inches. The State average temperature for the seven-day period was three degrees above normal. The highest official temperature reported was 113* degrees at Johnston and the University of South Carolina Campus on June 29. The lowest official temperature reported was 51 degrees at Cedar Creek on June 27. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.67 inches at Charleston City ending at 7:00 a.m. on June 26. The State average rainfall for the period was 0.8 inches. *Preliminary South Carolina State record highest temperature pending a joint review by Columbia National Weather Service Office, the SC State Climatology Office, the National Weather Service Eastern Region, the NOAA Regional Climate Centers and the National Climatic Data Center. SOIL: 4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 83 degrees, Charleston 86 degrees. RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 81 degrees. Precipitation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location : Total : Total : Deviation : for Week : for 2012 : from Average --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greer AP : 0.37 16.61 -6.8 Anderson AP : 1.54 17.28 -5.0 Columbia Metro AP : 1.30 18.90 -2.5 Orangeburg AP : 1.03 21.11 -1.8 Charlotte, NC AP : 0.00 16.08 -4.7 Augusta, GA Bush AP : 0.01 13.30 -9.1 Florence AP : 0.92 21.89 1.8 N Myrtle Beach AP : 0.37 14.73 -7.5 Charleston AP : 2.24 22.59 0.4 Savannah, GA AP : 0.64 20.32 -2.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.