Turning our attention now to the tropical storm that hit California ag. It is the first to make landfall in the state since 1939.
USDA Meteorologist, Brad Rippey shares what crops are at risk.
“We do have to be concerned with Pima cotton; 94 percent of the U.S. Pima cotton crop comes out of California and Arizona. 100 percent of the nation’s commercial lemon crop comes out of that region, as well as about 4/5 of the limes and a significant portion of citrus. So, we will have to watch those winds as they intersect cotton and citrus production areas,” Rippey explains.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration caught Tropical Storm Hilary moving over California on satellite, saying that it has brought a historic amount of rainfall to the southwestern U.S.
“Which in some of the higher elevation sites in southern California totaled 4-8 inches, but as you move into some heavily populated areas, we did see some 3-inch plus totals there and just a couple quick examples, Burbank, California coming in with 3.28 inches of rain on Sunday, August 20th. That is the wettest August day on record there and that single-handedly in one day broke Burbank’s August all-time rainfall record, which had been 2.97 inches for the entire month back in 1977,” he adds.
As for wind gusts, Yuma, Arizona saw wind at 69 miles per hour, and southern California saw hurricane-level winds with the highest recording at 84 miles per hour.
