Commodities Market Impact Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- A storm with widespread precipitation in the U.S. next week and limited rain in the southern half of South America are the weather factors driving the markets Friday.

MIDWEST WARM AND ACTIVE

Above-normal temperatures should be in the Midwest for the next couple of weeks with only brief cool downs as a couple of systems move through. This is causing melting and potential for ice jams and flooding across northern zones. In addition, scattered rain showers are expected across the east through Saturday. A larger storm system is forecast to bring widespread precipitation early to mid-next week, which may include a band of heavy snow across the northwest. Temperatures are likely to cool down behind this system for a couple of days before rising again.

SOME SHOWERS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

In the Central and Southern Plains, a band of snow fell across the north on Thursday, with some areas of heavier snow in Colorado while heavier rain fell in the far southeast. A larger storm system is forecast to move through Monday and Tuesday with more widespread precipitation. It is still being determined if anything significant will fall on the southwestern Plains, however.

VARIABLE WEATHER FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS

Temperatures will remain above normal in the Northern Plains through the weekend. Any threat to arctic cold temperatures is well off in time, though some below-normal readings will occur next week. A storm will move through on Monday, which may bring a wide band of wintry precipitation, though models are still trying to determine exactly where this will occur.

RIVER LEVELS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI GETTING A BUMP

Warmer air is in place across the Delta and other areas of the country, which will help melt snow and bring more water through the river system. Additional periods of showers are expected through the weekend and again next week, which will help to add to the river as well. Water levels reached a peak last week but will be helped out by a slightly active pattern going into the new year.

ONLY LIMITED SHOWERS FOR SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Scattered showers will continue in central and northern Brazil for at least the next two weeks, as is typical for this time of year. Soybeans remain in mostly favorable condition, though dryness across the far south is a little concerning for both corn and soybeans that are in reproductive stages. Some brief showers will move through the south early next week. But if they disappoint, it could mean meaningful reductions in production there as it goes dry again behind a front.

BRIEF SHOWERS FOR ARGENTINA, THEN DRY

Another round of showers will move through Argentina this weekend, but it will get dry behind that front again. Showers are not coming at a consistent enough clip to reduce drought or turn around crop conditions for corn and soybeans that have been significantly harmed by heat and drought this season. Planting on both crops remains behind the normal pace as well.

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

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