Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- Growing drought in much of the Plains, South, and Southeast U.S., but areas of heavy rain from central Texas through the Midwest, heavy rain in southern Argentina, and isolated showers in Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Thursday.

TWO MORE SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH THE MIDWEST

Another system moved into the Midwest on Wednesday and started to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms. That system continues on Thursday, with significant freezing rain across the north. Another system will do something similar for Friday and Saturday. Some heavy rain will occur, increasing soil moisture for planting and easing dryness, but will make it difficult to get out into the fields this week. A burst of colder air will follow early next week but will be short-lived. Additional systems are forecast for late next week and weekend.

DROUGHT GROWING, BUT SOME HEAVY RAIN IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

A potent storm system moved through on Wednesday with widespread showers and some areas of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms. The front to the system continues east on Thursday. Another system will move through for Friday and Saturday with much of the same. Despite this, precipitation across the Southwest will be very limited to almost nothing at all and winds will be breezy around both storms. Drought has quickly been growing over the last couple of months and conditions in the West will only get worse. Though conditions for wheat are mixed, this is not a good situation for most areas. Systems may be more beneficial starting late next week, but no guarantees should be expected.

ONE ROUND OF SNOW EXITING, ANOTHER INCOMING FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

A system moved in on Wednesday and is exiting the east with snow on Thursday. One more system will move through on Friday and Saturday, offering widespread mixed precipitation and chances for heavy snow. While the precipitation will be welcome, it will be difficult to get any early fieldwork done for a little while. Temperatures will be colder and will largely last through next week as well.

TWO FRONTS MOVING THROUGH DELTA; DROUGHT CONTINUES TO GROW

Dryness and drought are a major concern in the Delta as spring planting increases in April. A front will move in on Thursday and another will go through this weekend. Despite chances for widespread showers and thunderstorms, it will not be enough to reduce drought for too many areas and next week is likely to be drier.

ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR BRAZIL

Wet season showers in Brazil continue to be isolated through the weekend. The country needs more consistent heavy rainfall during the last month of the wet season for a good safrinha corn crop. A front moving up from Argentina next week may provide some more widespread showers but is forecast to be a brief boost. Showers are forecast to go isolated again after it passes through. Overall, this is not a good situation for safrinha corn.

HEAVY RAIN IN ARGENTINA

A slow-moving front will keep showers going in Argentina through the weekend before moving north on Monday. Rain will be somewhat favorable, but only for late-planted crops as the early season corn harvest continues to march on and early planted soybeans have started to be harvested as well. Some areas of flooding may cause harvest problems.

RAIN CONTINUES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE; RAIN SPREADING THROUGH NEXT WEEK

A system continues to produce scattered showers around the eastern Mediterranean into Friday, boosting moisture for winter crops. Other areas of the continent continue to be drier for the rest of the week. Northeastern areas have seen a few showers, but need more. Meanwhile, Spain has been a bit drier, allowing them to recover from heavy rain over the winter. More active weather is expected next week.

SCATTERED SHOWERS CONTINUE IN THE BLACK SEA REGION

Waves of scattered showers continue in the Black Sea region through next week. With soil moisture mixed around the region, the showers will be helpful as wheat continues to green up and thoughts turn toward spring planting. Some colder air will move in during the middle of next week and slow down growth. It may also produce some accumulating snow.

RECENT HEAVY RAIN IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Heavy rain across western Australia over the weekend helped to prep soils for winter wheat and canola planting. Another disturbance moving through on Thursday and Friday will bring a few more showers there as well. Dryness in the east will favor cotton and sorghum harvest, but more rain is needed in these areas for wheat and canola planting. Showers will be limited next week and favor western areas as well.

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

Copyright 2026 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.