Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- One last clipper with a burst of arctic air for this weekend in the U.S., and rain in Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Friday.

CLIPPER FOLLOWED BY SHOT OF ARCTIC AIR FOR THE MIDWEST THIS WEEKEND

A clipper moved through the Midwest on Thursday into Friday morning with a band of light to moderate snow. One more will follow a similar path for Saturday. Lake-effect snow will occur over the weekend as well. Another blast of extremely cold, arctic air will push through this weekend. It will be very intense and some areas may not make it above zero, but will only last a couple of days with warmer air moving in next week. The storm track will shift north into Canada, but some showers may still occur next week and lingering cold air north of the border has a chance to be brought down for a day or two. But the pattern should be warmer next week, causing snow to melt.

BRIEF COLD, THEN EXTREMELY WARM FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

The storm track to the north has allowed some warmer air into the Central and Southern Plains. However, a strong cold front will move through on Friday with another blast of colder air. That should be brief though as warmer air moves in early next week and stays around for a while. Precipitation is generally not expected, but a few spots in Nebraska could see some light amounts Friday and Saturday. Stacking dryness is not favorable for soil moisture with increasing temperatures next week, which may cause drought to spread.

BRIEF COLD AIR FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS

One last clipper will move through the Northern Plains on Friday into Saturday, producing a band of heavy snow. Cold air will flow into the region, but will quickly move out by Monday, being replaced by largely warm air. Cold air will be lingering across western Canada though, and the storm track to the north may bring through some showers and a little taste of that cold next week.

MORE RAIN NEEDED FOR MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Recent precipitation in the Midwest produced a lot of snow, which will slowly leak into the Mississippi River system throughout the winter, especially with warmer air arriving next week. Some showers will be possible around the middle of next week with moisture coming up from the Gulf, but rainfall amounts continue to trend below normal.

BRAZIL GETTING NEEDED RAINFALL

Central Brazil has seen a vast improvement in soil moisture due to heavy rain last week, favoring developing to reproductive soybeans. Showers continue there for the foreseeable future, though not at the same intensity. A front will bring heavier showers to south-central areas on Friday and Saturday with one more early next week. Conditions are either favorable or improving.

ISOLATED SHOWERS IN ARGENTINA THROUGH THE WEEKEND

Though the pattern has been slower with rainfall chances, soil moisture in Argentina is still favorable after an active spring. Some patchy rainfall continues through the weekend, but rainfall is coming at a below-normal pace outside of the north and next week is forecast to be much drier. Issues with some areas getting too dry for developing corn and soybeans will be a concern with time.

ITALY WILL NEED MORE RAIN, MAY GET SOME NEXT WEEK

An active pattern over the last several weeks has most areas of Europe in good shape with soil moisture. Dormant wheat across the north and central is in good condition. Across the south, some showers will move through Spain over the next several days, but Italy and the Balkans will be dry. More rain would be favorable in Italy, but there isn't a concern just yet. There may be a secondary storm track across the Mediterranean next week that could bring some showers through.

DROUGHT STILL A CONCERN FOR PORTIONS OF BLACK SEA REGION

Systems moving across northern Europe have been bringing some showers through the Black Sea region this week, which continues through the weekend. Dryness and drought are still a concern this winter as wheat went dormant late and largely in questionable condition. Some southern areas have been too warm for dormancy, though colder air will work through over the weekend to help facilitate that.

LIMITED SHOWERS FOR EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Soil moisture conditions are mixed in Australia with some areas scattered about that are too dry while some are just fine. Wheat and canola continue to be harvested while cotton and sorghum are being planted and going through early growth. Some showers will be possible in eastern growing areas over the next few days, but very little is forecast elsewhere as conditions will continue trending downward in many areas.

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

(c) Copyright 2025 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.