Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- Growing drought in the Central and Southern Plains, active weather this week for some of the U.S., heavy rain in southern Argentina, and isolated showers in Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Tuesday.

THREE SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH THE MIDWEST THIS WEEK

Three different systems and their fronts will continue periods of showers and thunderstorms through the Midwest for the rest of the week. Some heavy rain will occur, increasing soil moisture for planting and easing dryness, but may make it difficult to get out into the fields this week. Some bursts of colder air should be enough to allow for some accumulating snow and freezing rain over northern areas Wednesday night and Thursday, and again Friday and Saturday.

SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS, BUT NOT WITH WIDESPREAD RAIN

The Central and Southern Plains will be active with fronts and systems moving across the region through Saturday. Multiple rounds of precipitation are expected, but they will not hit all areas and are likely to miss the southwest where drought has quickly been growing over the last couple of months. Though conditions are mixed, this is not a good situation for most winter wheat areas. Northern areas could be in for some accumulating snow on a couple of occasions, and winds will be strong on some days this week as well. Overall, this is a poor week to get any fieldwork done.

COOLER WITH MORE CHANCES FOR SNOW IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS THIS WEEK

Some showers went through the Northern Plains on Monday, and more are forecast for the rest of the week as two more systems move through the region through Saturday. While scattered showers will be welcome, it will include areas of snow and maybe some ice. It will be difficult to get any early fieldwork done this week. Temperatures will be colder as well.

TWO FRONTS MOVING THROUGH DELTA THIS WEEK

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.

ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR BRAZIL

Wet season showers in Brazil became isolated over the weekend and continue to be so through the weekend. The country needs more consistent heavy rainfall during the last month of the wet season for a good safrinha corn crop. But the forecasts are not favorable for that. They are more favorable for what remains of the soybean harvest, though.

HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN ARGENTINA

Isolated showers became heavy over southern Argentina this weekend, helping increase soil moisture as crop conditions have largely stabilized. A slow-moving front will keep showers going for much of the week across the central and south before moving north this weekend. 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.

RAIN CONTINUES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

A system continues to produce scattered showers around the eastern Mediterranean for the rest of the week, boosting moisture for winter crops in southeastern Europe. Other areas of the continent will 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.

SHOWERS SPREADING THROUGH THE BLACK SEA REGION

Waves of scattered showers continue in the Black Sea region as a pair of systems move through. With soil moisture mixed around the region, the showers will be helpful as wheat continues to green up and thoughts turn toward spring planting.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA SAW HEAVY RAIN

Tropical Cyclone Narelle brought needed heavy rain through Western Australia over the weekend while eastern areas were dry. Some disturbances will move through this week, but precipitation will be limited and favor western areas that are preparing for wheat and canola planting. Dryness in the east will favor cotton and sorghum harvest, but more rain is needed in these areas for wheat and canola planting.

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

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