25 August 2003 Blue Mold Forecasts

 

FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, August 25:

***** 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.

***** The Weather..... Mostly dry weather in store for the eastern U.S. / southern Canada Monday and Tuesday. Scattered afternoon showers are possible in parts of the Southeast today and Tuesday. A frontal system will move across the northern areas during the next two days, bringing a chance of showers to the Great Lakes, upper Ohio Valley, and Northeast. Otherwise, dry weather and warming temperatures are expected in the regions of interest Monday and Tuesday.

***** The Forecasts....

In the Southeast.... Moderate Risk for northern FL and southern GA Monday and Tuesday. Weakly Moderate Risk for southern SC Monday and Tuesday.

Across the north.... Low Risk near the growing areas of southeast PA on Monday. Moderate Risk for southeast PA and northern MD on Tuesday. Low Threat from the southern New England source areas each day. However, nighttime drizzle or showers may provide locally favorable conditions in that region.

Elsewhere in the mid-Atlantic, southern Mountains, and Ohio Valley..... unfavorable weather will dominate the forecasts during the next two days. Low Risk for these growing regions Monday and Tuesday.

TK

Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: Southeast, parts of Ohio Valley


 

Current Sources:

 

Previous Sources:

Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Corpus Christi, Texas

 

[Back to August 2003 Blue Mold Forecasts]

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.