Massive Ice Storm Cripples Northeast

More than a million customers lost power throughout the New England area Friday morning after a massive ice storm swept through the area. This is part of the same storm system that dropped a fair amount of snow in the warm-weather cities of Houston and New Orleans. Meanwhile, areas to the north in Montana are struggling with an Arctic air mass that could spell disaster for free range cattle.
John Adams, Editor-in-Chief


CROP PROJECTIONS BRIEF:
Arctic Cold Wave Threatens Montana Cattle
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ Deep snow conditions will make it hard for farmers to feed and water their herds.
§ Montana cattle are not conditioned for these frigid temperatures and could actually die.
§ Montana is bracing for an Arctic cold wave, with 40-degree below zero wind chill temps.
SEVERE WEATHER BRIEF:
One Million Plus Lose Power in New England Ice Storm
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ A state of emergency has been declared for Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
§ Freezing rain and sleet pelted New England crippling transportation in the region.
§ Authorities across New England report that it may be days before power is restored.
AGRICULTURE BRIEF:
Texas Growers Saddled with Heavy Input Costs
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ Texas farmers, ranchers are suffering from low prices and high production costs.
§ Drought and cold weather forcing ranchers to rely more on supplemental feed.
§ Price of fertilizer falling slower than drop in commodity markets, hurting farmers.
ENERGY BRIEF:
Gulf Oil Industry still Hurting after Hurricanes
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ 15% of oil output and 21% of gas output still down after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.
§ Hurricanes Ike and Gustav shut off virtually all oil production in the Gulf this summer.
§ Officials considering new methods to reduce wind and wave damage from storms.
RETAIL BRIEF:
Rocky Mountain Ski Resorts Hoping for Peak Snowfall
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ Warmer weather and late snowfall cutting into western ski industry profits.
§ Ski leader Vail Resorts reports 23% fewer advanced bookings, compared to 2007.
§ Expert claims heavy snowfall could save western ski season, in spite of recession.
TRAVEL BRIEF:
Weather could Stifle Holiday Travel
BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
§ Airlines react to expected drop in air traffic with a 9% drop in holiday flights.
§ Flights could still be packed due to smaller flight schedules and weather delays.
§ Weather punished airports during Thanksgiving flying season, despite reduced traffic.

We've Relaunched Our Site

Dear StormWire Readers,

Introducing StormX – Agricultural Weather Analysis

We’ve launched a new web site featuring the Expert Weather & Agriculture Commentary of Gail Martell and the StormX research team. It’s available at http://www.stormx.com/agriculture

Benefits

This critical agriculture information is accessible, easy to find, and updated with analysis throughout the day.

In a few weeks we will launch additional features including:
- Weekly Updated Crop Yield Forecasts
- Interactive charting of USDA Crop Progress and Crop Condition data
- Critical weather maps including our new “yield implication” maps
- Local weather observations and forecasts

Check It Out

Click on http://www.stormx.com/agriculture now to view Gail Martell’s critical insights and the innovative analyses of the StormX research team.

Best Regards,

David Riker
President

Midwest Wetness Maybe A Worry For Corn Yields

Very heavy rainfall last weekend is increasing anxiety over corn planting delays in the spring. Farms hit by weekend floods have been receiving heavy precipitation all winter long and may be too wet to plant in early May, the optimum time for the highest yield.

Read the full post

South Carolina Wind Farm May Spur Local Economy

BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
– South Carolina wind farm may create over 11,000 jobs.
– Would provide region with renewable energy source.
– Could be at least a year and a half to determine if farm is viable.

The creation of a wind farm in South Carolina may be exactly what the state needs as America slips further into the economic downturn.

On Monday, state energy officials announced that more than 11,000 jobs would be created if ongoing research by the Palmetto Wind Company proves that a wind farm along the South Carolina’s coast is a viable option for energy production. Between the construction and the operation of a farm, anyone from steel and sheet metal workers to engineers would find employment.

The benefits of a potential wind farm go beyond job creation. South Carolina would become a leader in alternative energy production, thereby decreasing dependence on oil and other fossil fuels.

To determine the viability of a wind farm in South Carolina, buoys outfitted with anemometers and sonar will be deployed in the coming weeks at Winyah Bay in Georgetown and near Waties Island, about 20 miles up the coast from Myrtle Beach. Data will be collected and analyzed to see the frequency and strength of winds. This process is expected to take at least 18 months.

Drought Breaking Rain in Texas

Central and northeastern Texas received 2.5 inches of rainfall and locally 4-6 inches over the past 36 hours, ending a long drought. Cattlemen had to resort to supplemental feed early in the winter to supply their herds, because of very poor grazing conditions. The eastern third of the state experienced the driest winter on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Read more on the StormX Wake Up Weather Report for Thursday March 12

Beneficial Rain for Texas Pastures and Rangelands

Heavy rainfall up to 2 inches will develop in central and eastern Texas along a stalled weather front the next 2-3 days. Scattered showers have produced .3-.6 inch of rainfall so far. December-February weather was the driest on record in Texas, according to the National Climatic Data Center, forcing heavy supplemental feeding for cattle requirements. Topsoil moisture was rated 84-100% short depending on the crop district in USDA’s March 8th letter.

Read more on the StormX Agriculture page

Argentina Soybeans Pegged Higher

Exceptional heavy rainfall in February turned erased drought and boosted pod filling in Argentina’s top soybean provinces. Santa Fe rainfall was more than twice normal in some locations. We expect soy output to expand to 46 million tons, which would be similar to last year’s bumper crop. USDA last month pegged the Argentina crop at 43.8 million tons.

Read more on the StormX Agriculture page

What Are The main Threats to Timely Spring Planting?

– Heavy snowmelt threatens spring planting in North Dakota.
– Frost is 1-2 feet deep on Minnesota farms.
– Too much precipitation is turning fields wet in Great Lakes area.
– Drought is encroaching on Western Corn Belt .

Heavy snowpack in Northern Plains: A blizzard yesterday added another 4-10 inches of snow to an already substantial snow pack in North Dakota and western Minnesota. The worry is that fields will turn muddy, when snow finally melts away in the spring, bogging down spring wheat and corn planting. As a rule, yields are depressed when planting is seriously delayed. The snow pack contains 2 to 7 inches of water, when melted.

Cold and wet in Minnesota: Corn and soybean farmers are happy to have received heavy winter snow that will replenish fields. Excellent subsoil moisture is like money in the bank, in the event of a dry summer. Compared to winter drought a year ago, this is much better. On the negative side, very deep frost penetration in a cold winter will require additional time for thawing in the spring. Growers are hoping for abundant sunshine and plentiful spring warmth.

Read more on the StormX Agriculture page