FORECAST SUMMARY: Friday, August 22:
***** Disease Update - 20
August ***** Strong blue mold is
present in southern New England.
James LaMondia informs us that blue mold has been
confirmed in several areas of the Connecticut River valley in western
Massachusetts. Heavy disease is present on shade and broadleaf
tobaccos, and active sporulation is occurring. Recent weather has
been very favorable for disease development. Growers are using
Acrobat MZ to combat the problem. In some cases, fields have been
destroyed. The tobacco crop is running later than normal due to the
cool, wet weather this year.
*****Disease Update - 18 August
***** Blue mold has been discovered in the
flue-cured areas of Virginia.
Blue mold lesions were discovered in several fields late
last week in Halifax and Patrick counties along southside Virginia.
Most fields in these counties are beyond the topping stage and into
harvest (the initial discovery in Halifax County occurred while
harvest was occurring).
***** The Weather..... A strong cold front is moving through the Northeast and Ohio Valley today and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are possible for nearly all portions of the eastern U.S. The front will move through the mid-Atlantic states, southern mountains, and TN valley on Saturday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur again along and ahead of the front. High pressure with cooler and drier conditions will move in behind the front.... across the north on Saturday and into the central areas on Sunday. Scattered showers are possible on Sunday in the deep South and lower Southeast.
***** The Forecasts....
On Friday..... HIGH Risk for northern FL and southern GA. Moderate Risk for many areas, including southern and eastern SC, eastern NC, southeast PA, northern MD, southern New England, the southern Appalachian Mountains and nearby sections of western NC, central TN, western and central KY, and southern IN. A broad area of showers and thunderstorms brings HIGH Risk to southern OH, eastern KY, and western WV.
On Saturday.... Moderate risk for southern GA, southern SC, the southern Appalachian Mountains, and western NC. Strongly Moderate Risk for eastern SC and southeast NC. Drier weather moving in behind the front will bring Low Risk to other growing areas.
On Sunday.... mixed weather conditions will persist in the Southeast, while all other areas will enjoy unfavorable weather, with Low Risk to tobacco crops.
TK
Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: all U.S. growing regions east of the Mississippi River
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Corpus Christi, Texas
Local Weather in North Carolina is available from the WRAL-TV5 Weather Center, which also has links to other weather sites.
***** NOTE: These forecasts/outlooks only apply to disease development from airborne transport of spores!!! We do not have the capability to ascertain blue mold development by other means, such as transplanting of infected seedlings, nor will we attempt to do so. Please consult the Extension Service personnel in your area if you have concerns about these matters! *****
This service is provided by the North Carolina State University departments of Plant Pathology and Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences.