Commodities Market Impact Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- An active storm track across the middle of the country this week and weekend and limited showers in southern South America are the weather factors holding the market's attention Wednesday.

STRONG WEEKEND STORM IN MIDWEST

After rounds of significant precipitation early this week in the Midwest, the next couple of days will trend quieter but colder. Additional moderate to heavy precipitation is expected for the beginning of the new year, which may help out with some of the regional drought but may lead to flooding in the south. That could come with risks for freezing rain and heavy snow, however.

ACTIVE WEATHER NOT ENOUGH FOR SW PLAINS

A system moving through Texas and Oklahoma will bring some scattered showers on Wednesday. But a stronger system will move through Friday and Saturday with a better chance for more widespread showers, including a risk for freezing rain and heavy snow across mostly Kansas and Nebraska. This will be brief, however, and likely have little impact on the ongoing drought. Low temperatures will move through only briefly this weekend while staying more focused to the north.

DROUGHT REDUCTION CONTINUES FOR PNW

The Pacific Northwest will stay active as systems move through during the next 10 days, building up snowpack and soil moisture for spring. Drought conditions will continue to decline.

POLAR VORTEX CHILLING NORTHERN PLAINS

After the accumulating snow in the Northern Plains Tuesday, any additional snow accumulations this week look to remain mostly scattered and light. Low temperatures will continue to seep into the region, stressing livestock. There may be a bit of a break from the extreme cold early next week, but deep cold returns later next week.

ARCTIC COLD CONTINUES IN CANADIAN PRAIRIES

Arctic cold will continue through the next several days as the polar vortex remains over the region. There will be just a small break in the harsh conditions this weekend before they return next week. Stress on livestock will continue to be extreme for the next two weeks.

LIMITED SHOWERS FOR SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Dry conditions over southern Brazil are a major concern for reproductive to filling corn and soybeans. Conditions continue to be very good for central and northern Brazil, though wetness may cause some delays to the upcoming harvest. Some isolated showers will pop up at times over southern areas later this week and weekend, but very spotty with limited impact. Heat and dryness should continue to force crop conditions to decline.

LIMITED SHOWERS FOR ARGENTINA

In Argentina, dryness with high temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit continue to stress developing to reproductive corn and soybeans. Some isolated showers may pop up at times later this week, and some more-scattered showers will be possible this weekend into early next week, but it will be difficult for forecast rainfall to match the needs of the crops as conditions should continue to decline. Planting pace is still slow, so there is time for the weather to turn around, but prospects are not good through January.

GOOD HARVEST CONDITIONS IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Some isolated showers lingered in eastern Australia on Tuesday, which may have had a small impact on harvest of winter wheat and canola. But overall conditions have been good recently. Some showers will remain possible over the next few days, but will be followed by dryness, benefiting harvest. Heat that comes into southeastern Australia could start to become stressful for cotton and sorghum in drier areas later this week.

John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com

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