Commodities Market Impact Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- At least one more big storm system and a blast of arctic air in the U.S., continued good weather in most of South America, but a drier stretch coming to central Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Wednesday.

MIDWEST PREPARING FOR ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM

A storm system brought a mix of heavy rain and snow and near-blizzard conditions to the Midwest over the last couple of days. The storm is exiting to the east early Wednesday. A weak system will bring some light snow through Wednesday and Thursday. Another large storm will follow a similar path as the first for Thursday night through Saturday night, which could hit the same areas again with another round of heavy snow and strong winds for blizzard conditions. That system will bring a blast of arctic air into the region that should last through next week.

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS PREPPING FOR ARCTIC BLAST AFTER ANOTHER STORM

Another major winter storm will develop in the Central and Southern Plains on Thursday, and though the precipitation will be widespread and the track will be similar, the impacts from this storm are forecast to be less than the one that occurred earlier this week. Only some limited areas of moderate to heavy snow are forecast into Friday, but could again come with stronger winds and the storm will bring in extremely cold, arctic air for most areas. Models differ on the details of the cold and how long it will last, but is likely to stick around through next week. A third system may form Sunday into Monday with more wintry impacts for the region, mainly across the south, though models disagree with this as well.

ARCTIC AIR MOVING INTO NORTHERN PLAINS

A weak storm moving through the Northern Plains on Wednesday will bring lighter snow, but a blast of arctic air will follow it through next week, moderating next weekend. The harsh cold will necessitate additional feed for livestock and the quick snap in temperatures could be extra stressful.

MORE HEAVY RAIN, POTENTIAL WINTER STORM FOR DELTA

Another large storm will bring a round of showers and thunderstorms through the Delta on Friday but will be followed by a burst of arctic air. That could set the stage for a major winter storm for Sunday and Monday that would bring ice and snow to at least northern areas if not most of the region. Models disagree on its development, though. The heavy precipitation with these storms is favorable for further reducing drought and building up water levels in the Mississippi River system.

RAINFALL WANING IN CENTRAL BRAZIL, PICKING UP FARTHER SOUTH

Scattered showers will continue in central Brazil through the weekend, though the coverage and intensity are forecast to lessen later in the week and weekend from east to west. Those showers will still be in the region next week, however they should be very isolated, causing some discussion about further damage to soybeans and a lack of soil moisture for the coming safrinha corn crop. Across the south, waves of showers are expected in the region this week and most of next week, favorable for filling soybeans and developing other crops. Some of the areas like Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo that were dry last week will see much better rainfall.

MORE SHOWERS FOR ARGENTINA

Heavier rain continues in northern Argentina through Thursday as a front slowly slides northward. The recent widespread rainfall continues to favor developing corn and soybeans. Additional waves of showers are forecast across the country through at least the middle of next week, which maintains the overall favorable conditions.

EUROPE STAYING ACTIVE

Scattered showers continue across southern Europe into Thursday and recent rains here have been favorable for vegetative winter wheat in Spain and Italy. The pattern stays active across the continent with more storm systems next week that could be more widespread across the region.

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

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