Due to a variety of issues, the transition to our new location has been rather difficult. While we get back on our feet, the forecasts for the next week or two will be abbreviated as follows: Detailed forecasts will be provided for the northern FL / southern GA source area. We will provide trajectories and summary information for the other sites. Should transport events from the sites in the Carribean, Mexico, or southern Texas prove threatening, we will include detailed forecasts for those events as well. We thank you for your patience while we adjust to our new surroundings!
FORECAST SUMMARY: Wednesday, March 26:
***** 24 March - Blue mold has been
discovered in southern Georgia *****
Paul Bertrand reports that blue mold has
been found in a plant bed near the town of Lake Park in Lowndes
County. A very small portion of the plant bed showed
active sporulation. This small portion of the plant bed is being
destroyed. No signs of disease are visible in other sections of the
plant bed. A spray program is starting immediately and the remainder
of the bed will be inspected closely this week. Since this new
site is only 20-25 miles north of the site in northern FL, we will
use the northern FL location to represent both of these
outbreaks.
***** The Weather.... a cold front is moving through the southeast U.S. today and tonight. Sunny to partly cloudy skies will give way to a chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the day. In addition, a weak low pressure area is moving west to east across the Gulf of Mexico today and Thursday, accompanied by showers. The cold front will stall out over the Southeast on Thursday. The combination of the stalled front and the disturbance in the Gulf will result in continued unsetted weather on Thursday for FL and eastern sections of GA and the Carolinas. Other areas will have variable clouds and mostly dry conditions on Thursday.
***** For the southeast U.S. and eastern Gulf of Mexico..... Wednesday's trajectory from the northern FL / southern GA region moves to the northeast. Conditions are mixed for survivable transport and deposition. There is Moderate Risk Wednesday for tobacco crops in northern FL, southern GA, and eastern SC. Low Risk otherwise. Thursday's trajectory from this region moves northwest. Mixed conditions for disease development will continue near the source area but should be unfavorable along the forecast trajectory. Wednesday's trajectory from western Cuba moves to the north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, this event should pose little danger to U.S. production areas. Transport conditions are mostly unfavorable, and any airborne spores will be washed out of the atmosphere while they are over the Gulf.
***** Elsewhere.... trajectories from the other known sources do not threaten other regions on Wednesday or Thursday. Local conditions will favor disease development in the Dominican Republic.
TK
Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: None
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
None
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.