Warmth follows first hard freeze, sugarbeet harvest hits high gear

Shaun Evertson
Posted 10/20/17

Trucks were hauling sugarbeets to receiving stations throughout the Panhandle nearly round the clock this week as sugarbeet harvest hit high gear.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Warmth follows first hard freeze, sugarbeet harvest hits high gear

Posted

Trucks were hauling sugarbeets to receiving stations throughout the Panhandle nearly round the clock this week as sugarbeet harvest hit high gear.

Harvest activities came to a halt last week when a rain and snow mix delivered up to an inch of liquid precipitation across the region. Despite a hard freeze, the moisture muddied fields which had not yet frozen, making work impossible until the soil had a chance to dry.

Fortunately, warm and sunny weather followed in the wake of last week’s winter storm, rapidly drying fields and allowing harvest activities to resume.

The week was warm and mild during the day and cooled nicely in the evening, heralding the arrival of Indian Summer. These conditions were just right for speeding the maturation and drying of summer crops.

Near Kimball, some dryland corn was being combined late in the week. If the weather holds, corn harvest could hit full swing in the
coming week.

Well managed pastures and rangeland remain remarkably green following the first hard freeze with a nice flush of cool season regrowth and lush development of winter
annual grasses.

Regional Forecast and Conditions

As of Tuesday morning, the temperature at sunrise was 35 degrees under clear skies. The day was expected to be sunny and quite warm with a high near 80 degrees.

The forecast through the weekend calls for a change to partly cloudy skies and some breeziness on Saturday with the arrival of a weather front. Little if any precipitation is anticipated. Weekend daytime air temperatures are forecast to range from the 70’s on Friday to the 50’s on Saturday and 60’s on Sunday. Overnight lows for the weekend are expected to fall into the low to
mid-30’s.

Monday thru Wednesday daytime highs are expected to range in the low 60’s, with overnight lows falling into the mid- to low-30’s. There is little chance of precipitation in the forecast.
Daytime air temperatures warmed nicely across the region last week, while overnight air temps cooled considerably. At Kimball the Oct. 10-16 daytime high averaged 65.85 degrees, about 8 degrees warmer than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 78 degrees on Oct. 12 and 16. Overnight lows averaged 29.42 degrees, about 10 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 23 degrees on Oct. 10. The weekly mean temperature was 47.64 degrees, about 1 degree cooler than the previous week, and just slightly cooler than the Oct. average of 48.6 degrees. The long term average high and low temperatures at Kimball for Oct. are 64.3 and 32.8 degrees, respectively.
Only one of 13 Panhandle stations reported precipitation over the Oct. 10-16 period, with Chadron Municipal receiving 0.05 inches of rain. All other stations reported zero  to a trace of precipitation. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.04 inches compared to 0.45 inches last week.
Panhandle soil temperatures cooled over the Oct. 10-16 period: (this week/last week/change): Alliance 47.4/51.8 (-4.4) degrees; Gordon 48.9/52.8 (-3.5) degrees; Mitchell 51.1/54.2 (-3.1) degrees; Scottsbluff 48.5/53.1 (-4.6); and Sidney 47.1/51.5 (-4.4) degrees.
Winds near Kimball averaged west-southwesterly, mostly mild but occasionally quite windy, over the Oct. 10-16 period. Gusts for the week averaged 27.57 mph. High gust for the week was 53 mph on Oct. 14.

Oct. 20 Weather Almanac

Here’s an overview of Oct. 20 temperature and precipitation highs, lows, and averages over the preceding 123 years at Kimball. Data is taken from the High Plains Regional Climate Center (www.hprcc.unl.edu), where you can easily find and track data for your own particular location.

Last year: Daily high temperature 58 degrees, overnight low 26 degrees, average temperature 42.0 degrees. Precipitation 0.00 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.

The warmest Oct. 20 on record was 91 degrees in 2003. The coolest high temperature was 32 degrees in 1906. The coldest overnight low was 14 degrees in 1976. The warmest overnight low was 48 degrees in 1963. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature has averaged 60 degrees, the overnight low 30 degrees, the daily average 45.2 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.04 inches, snowfall 0.1 inches, snow depth zero inches.

The highest Oct. 20 precipitation total was 0.78 inches in 1963. The greatest snow depth was 1.0 inch
in 1936.

Snow has fallen on Oct. 20 at Kimball five times over the last 123 years, with 1.5 inches in 1906 and 1949, 1 inch in 1936 and a trace in 1930 and 1952.

U.S. Drought Monitor

The High Plains: In much of northern and central Kansas, a one-category improvement was rendered to the depiction, in areas that received 1-3 inches of rain above their normal weekly amounts. In contrast, D0 was introduced to southeastern Kansas, which experienced another dry week coupled with warmer-than-normal temperatures.

In southeastern Nebraska, D1 was removed this week, and the “S” impact label in the western panhandle was changed to “L”, primarily due to recent wetness and the end of the growing season for summer crops.

In southeastern South Dakota, additional trimming of the D0 area was performed, as anywhere from 2-6 inches of precipitation has fallen in the past two weeks. The Impacts line was adjusted accordingly. A hard frost (28 degrees F or colder) was reported on the morning of Oct. 10, bringing the growing season to an end for most of the state.

West: In western Colorado, small-scale improvements were made thanks to beneficial precipitation that fell during the past two weeks. All short-term SPIs, and most longer-term SPIs are now showing conditions have returned to near-normal in these areas. Some one-class improvements were made in central and northeastern Montana this week. Reassessment of conditions next week in western and southeastern Montana may yield additional changes as well.

National Summary: At the beginning of the drought week, a cold front stretched from the Upper Mississippi Valley southwestward across the Central Plains and far southern Rockies. East and south of this front, daytime temperatures reached the 70’s and 80’s, with the exception of New England which topped out only in the 60’s.

During the ensuing 48 hours, the progressive northern portion of the cold front reached the New England coast, while the southern portion remained over the Central Plains. This area, from the Northeast across the Midwest to the south-central Great Plains, served as the focus for much of this week’s precipitation.

By Saturday, the southern portion of this frontal boundary made some eastward progress, apparently in response to an approaching 500-hPa shortwave trough. This overall setup was conducive to steering Hurricane Nate northward from the central Gulf of Mexico to the central Gulf Coast, where it made landfall as a category-1 hurricane near the mouth of the Mississippi River, on Saturday night. The remnants of Nate brought additional rainfall to the Appalachians and Atlantic Coast states on Sunday and Monday.

U.S. Conditions
and Weather Report

Sudden wildfires in northern California were fanned by a high-wind event on Oct. 8-9, resulting in catastrophic loss of life and widespread property destruction. Early reports indicated that there were at least 41 fatalities and well over 5,500 structures lost to the nearly two dozen fires, which also burned almost 250,000 acres of vegetation.

A broader area of dry, occasionally breezy weather encompassed the nation’s southwestern quadrant, while generally light precipitation stretched from the Pacific Northwest to the northern and central Rockies.

Farther east, the fast-moving remnants of Hurricane Nate contributed to early-week showers in the eastern U.S., while cold fronts produced periodic, locally heavy showers across the Midwest and environs. Rainfall in excess of four inches soaked parts of northern Illinois and southern Michigan.

While Midwestern rain hampered harvest activities and other fieldwork, drier weather across the Plains promoted a gradual return to harvest activities and winter wheat planting.

Late-season warmth prevailed in the eastern third of the U.S. and across the nation’s southern tier. In contrast, below-normal temperatures dominated areas from the Pacific Coast to the northern and central Plains.

Weekly temperatures ranged from 10 to 15 degrees above normal from the eastern Gulf Coast region into the Northeast, but averaged at least 10 degrees below normal in scattered locations across the northern Great Basin and northern Intermountain West.

On Oct. 10-11, the season’s first widespread freeze occurred from the central High Plains into the upper Midwest, although most summer crops had matured enough to withstand the
cold weather. 

Heavy rain amounts of two- to four-inches or more locally soaked the central and southern Plains and parts of the Midwest, halting fieldwork but improving soil moisture for recently planted winter grains and cover crops. In northern Montana, early-week snowfall was followed by a period of cold weather.

Elsewhere, cool but dry weather prevailed from California into the Desert Southwest. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees warmer than normal in the central and eastern Corn Belt, but ranged from 5 to 10 degrees cooler than normal across the northern High Plains, northern Rockies, and northern Intermountain West. Widespread freezes occurred across the northern High Plains, Rockies, and Intermountain West, but the growing season continued for developmentally delayed Midwestern summer crops.

Fast-moving Hurricane Nate made landfall around 12:30 a.m. CDT on Oct. 8 near Biloxi, Mississippi, with sustained winds near 85 mph. Heavy showers associated with Nate later spread northward from the central Gulf Coast into the Ohio Valley and parts of the Northeast. Antecedent dryness and the storm’s rapid forward speed helped to significantly limit flooding. As a result, primary impacts included local wind damage and coastal effects related to storm surge. Prior to Nate’s arrival, a non-tropical storm produced heavy rain and triggered local flooding across Florida’s peninsula, particularly along the
Atlantic Coast.

USDA Weather and Crop Reports

Week ending Oct. 15


Colorado

Drier conditions later in the week allowed harvest activities to pick up. Rain with some snow and colder conditions were reported early in the week.

Reporters noted that excess soil moisture slowed planting of winter wheat, but progress continued to be made where conditions were favorable.

Harvest of several spring crops was underway, but a few producers were still waiting for a hard freeze
in areas.

Pasture conditions in areas that have not received enough moisture remain a concern.

Across the state, livestock were reportedly doing well with more leaving summer pasture and cattle producers continuing to wean calves.

Statewide, corn was rated 84 percent good to excellent, compared with 74 percent

last year.

Stored feed supplies were rated 88 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 55 percent average and 45 percent light. Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 76 percent average, and 23 percent light.


Nebraska

Temperatures averaged near normal across eastern Nebraska, but four to eight degrees below normal in the west.

Precipitation of less than an inch was scattered across a majority of the State; however, a few southeastern counties received over an inch of rain. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 7 short, 80 adequate, and 11 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 

4 percent very short, 14 short, 76 adequate, and 6 surplus.

Wet fields continued to slow harvest. There were 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork.

Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 23 fair, 46 good, and 18 excellent. Corn mature was 92 percent, near 95 last year and 93 for the five-year average. Harvested was 17 percent, behind 32 last year, and well behind 39 average.

Soybean condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 26 fair, 49 good, and 12 excellent. Soybeans harvested was 33 percent, well behind 59 last year and 67 average.

Winter wheat planted was 86 percent, behind 98 last year and 95 average. Emerged was 66 percent, well behind 88 last year, behind 72 average.

Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 53 good, and 22 excellent. Sorghum mature was 92 percent, behind 98 last year, but equal to average. Harvested was 22 percent, well behind 49 last year, and behind 34 average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 92 percent complete, ahead of 86 last year.

Dry edible beans harvested was 75 percent, behind 94 last year and 89 average.

Proso millet harvested was 73 percent, behind 92 last year.

Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 13 poor, 45 fair, 35 good, and
4 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 4 short, 92 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Wyoming

Wyoming experienced cooler than normal temperatures for the week. All but one of 34 reporting stations logged cooler than average temperatures for the week, with the high temperature of 78 degrees recorded at LaGrange and a low of 12 degrees at
Yellowstone.

Below normal moisture was reported at 25 of the reporting stations, with 10 stations reporting no precipitation. Lander reported the most moisture with 0.72 inches.

A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated no moisture during the past week but did have a couple of frosty mornings.

A reporter from Southwestern Wyoming reported some snow this past week.

A reporter from South Central Wyoming indicated a taste of winter with a little moisture which will mostly help the stock water situation. They also indicated that cattle are mostly moved off of summer pastures and a large number of the calves have
been weaned.

A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming noted cold, wet weather moved into the area at the beginning of the week. They also indicated several frosty mornings; harvest is underway for
several crops.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 7 percent very short, 17 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.