Disease Update - July 19, 2004: Blue Mold continues to spread in the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachian Mountains. We have the first reports from West Virgina, from Cabell, Wayne, and Putnam counties. Kentucky now reports over 70 counties with confirmed blue mold, with northern TN at 9 counties and southern Ohio still at 5. In the mountains, there are over a dozen counties will confirmed blue mold loosely centered in northeast TN, plus some adjoining counties in western NC and extreme southwest VA.
The Weather... A stationary front lies along the eastern seaboard, with high pressure to the west. Partly cloudy skies for most areas today and Thursday with greater cloudiness late night and mornings. Scattered showers and thunderstorms mostly east of the mountains on Wednesday. Thursday's activity will include the southern mountains, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Dry weather west of the mountains both days.
The Forecast... transport events from the known sources should have minimal impact on other growing regions. Unfavorable conditions for survivable transport and deposition are found over most areas on Wednesday. Weakly Moderate Risk for north-central NC and southside VA today. All other areas are at Low Risk. On Thursday... mixed conditions are expected from the mountains eastward. There is Moderate Risk Thursday for the southern Appalachian Mountains, north-central NC, and southside VA. Dry weather will continue in the Ohio Valley, with Low Risk to tobacco crops in that region.
TK
Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: Southern Appalachian Mountains, Ohio Valley
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Southern 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.