Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Dryness in the western and central Midwest, and very little rain indicated for central Brazil, are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Thursday.

MIXED MIDWEST RAIN FORECAST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for a mixed rainfall pattern across the Midwest through the next week. Dryness is of increasing concern for the western and central areas, and is enhanced by the current well-above-normal temperature pattern. Meanwhile, the northern and northwestern sectors have moderate to locally heavy rain forecast, which will maintain favorable conditions for early crop development.

HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

In the Southern Plains, a few showers and isolated thundershowers will be in the region during the next five days, but rainfall will not be sufficient enough to improve yield prospects for winter wheat. Hot weather will minimize the benefit from any rain that develops.

NORTHERN PLAINS RAINFALL

An active weather pattern is again indicated for the Northern Plains through the weekend, with several periods of showers. This trend is easing drought conditions and is favorable for crops.

TROPICAL RAIN POTENTIAL IN SOUTHEAST

Southeastern U.S. and Delta crop areas continue with the potential for moderate to heavy rain through the coming weekend, depending on the evolution of a tropical weather system in the Gulf of Mexico. Heaviest rain amounts are likely in the Southeast, with the Delta in line for lighter precipitation.

VARIABLE RAIN FOR PRAIRIES

In the Canadian Prairies, dry conditions will continue to bring concern to western and northern portions of the region. Southeastern areas have seen late-week showers develop, with some moisture improvement.

MORE BRAZIL DRYNESS

Brazil crop areas remain dry. Very little rain is forecast through the next seven days. Losses to the safrinha corn crop continue. Total Brazil corn production is already estimated to be 20% below a year ago.

WARM IN NORTHEAST CHINA

Northeast China will have generally above-normal temperatures through the weekend, with only light showers. Corn and soybean areas received some favorable rain in the past week, but the upcoming warm and mostly dry trend will make further rainfall important.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA SHOWER CHANCE

Western Australia has light to moderate showers indicated in the five-day forecast. This would be timely for newly-seeded wheat. Elsewhere, light showers are possible in southeastern areas. Other major wheat areas will be dry through the coming weekend.

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

Follow Bryce Anderson on Twitter @BAndersonDTN

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