Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- A stalled pattern in Argentina, and widespread freezing precipitation for the Southern Plains in the U.S., are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Friday.

VARIABLE MIDWEST FORECAST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for a mixed of snow, ice and rain mix to develop during the weekend in the Midwest. Southern and eastern areas will see the majority of this precipitation; however, the western Midwest is also in line for some occurrence of the freezing precipitation. Moisture will generally be favorable for soil moisture. However, ice buildup will cause safety and transportation hazards along with possible electric power line damage.

WIDESPREAD SOUTHERN PLAINS FREEZING PRECIPITATION

A major precipitation event continues to form over the Southern Plains region 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 feed lots 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.

WARMER TREND FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

Across the Northern Plains, bitter cold conditions will be stressful for livestock and transportation for another 24 hours. A much warmer 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.

SHOWERS FOR NORTHEAST BRAZIL

In Brazil, the northeast crop areas continue with promising rainfall chances through mid-next week. A round of hot and dry conditions is expected in southern areas during the weekend. This appears to be a short-lived trend with no stress to crops. Meanwhile, conditions are favorable for harvest progress in Mato Grosso.

STALLED ARGENTINA PATTERN

In Argentina's major crop areas, a stalled weather pattern is leading to concerns for either too wet or too dry conditions. Northern and central provinces including Cordoba, Santa Fe and northern Buenos Aires will see continued moderate to heavy rain through the coming weekend. The heavy rains are leading to fears of reduced acreage for row crops and flooding loss. Meanwhile, the southern crop belt of La Pampa and southwestern Buenos Aires has production loss threatened due to below normal December and early January rainfall along with above normal temperatures.

HARSH EUROPE COLD WAVE

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

FAVORABLE RUSSIA SNOW

In Russia and Ukraine, snow cover has deepened during this past week. This blanket will offer significant protection to wheat in the event of any new cold wave development.

FAVORABLE SOUTH AFRICA PATTERN

Crops in South Africa will continue to benefit from episodes of scattered thunderstorms and no lasting hot weather.

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

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