Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Continued prospects for heavy precipitation in the Southern Plains, and a new round of rain indicated in wet areas of Argentina, are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Thursday.

WINTRY MIX FOR MIDWEST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for a snow, ice and rain mix to form in the Midwest during the end of this week and into the weekend. Southern and eastern areas will see the majority of this precipitation. The moisture will be generally favorable for soft red winter wheat. However, ice buildup will cause safety and transportation hazards along with possible electric power line damage.

WIDESPREAD SOUTHERN PLAINS PRECIPITATION

A major precipitation event for the Southern Plains is indicated at the end of this week and this weekend. This likely means improving soil moisture for a large portion of the winter wheat belt, including all of Kansas. It also means a high risk for a freezing rain and sleet storm for the area. Impacts include a major risk to livestock in the feedlots from West Texas to southwest Kansas, widespread and severe power outages and major transport issues. There is also at least some risk that this may change to snow leading to a major snow storm in parts of west Kansas, east Colorado and southwest Nebraska.

BITTER COLD FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

Across the northern Plains, bitter cold conditions will be stressful for livestock for another 24 to 48 hours. A more moderate temperature trend is indicated through the weekend and next week. There are no significant transportation concerns in these areas during the next three-to-five days.

PROMISING NORTHEAST BRAZIL RAIN OUTLOOK

Brazil continues with generally favorable crop conditions. Far northeastern areas have additional chances for beneficial rain through the coming weekend. In central areas, early harvest has a favorable forecast. Southern crop areas will see a hot spell for a few days. This does not appear threatening, but it will bear watching.

MORE RAIN FOR WET CENTRAL ARGENTINA

In central Argentina, additional rainfall is indicated over the next five days for Cordoba, Santa Fe, and the northern half of Buenos Aires provinces. This moisture will bring new flooding potential to an already very-wet sector of Argentina. Meanwhile, dryness concerns for sunflower areas and minor corn and soybeans areas in La Pampa and southwest Buenos Aires will remain in effect following below-normal December and early January rainfall and above-normal temperatures.

EUROPE COLD WAVE REMAINS

The cold and sometimes very cold pattern over eastern and southern Europe continues. Recent extreme cold is reported to have caused some problems for unprotected winter grains in Hungary. Very cold conditions, relative to normal, may have also affected specialty crops such as olives and citrus in the south Italy, Greece and east Mediterranean region.

Bryce Anderson can be reached at bryce.anderson@dtn.com

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