Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- Several reinforcing shots of cold air along with some snow in the U.S., and a forecast for heavy rain in central Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Wednesday.

MORE SNOW, COLD IN THE MIDWEST

A strong cold front will move through the Midwest on Wednesday into Thursday with some snow, but another push of intensely cold air. Systems afterward are favoring a clipper-like pattern for the weekend and next week. That will promote more streaks of snow, breezy winds, and pushes of cold air through the region.

A COUPLE OF SHOTS OF COLD AIR FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

Multiple fronts will continue to push through the Central and Southern Plains the rest of the week and weekend, with occasional showers and shots of colder air. Warmer air will move in next week with the main storm track shifting northward for a brief period.

COLD REINFORCED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS

Cold air will continually be reinforced in the Northern Plains as systems and fronts move across the region through this weekend. Occasional precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, will develop every couple of days. Warmer air will spread into the region next week, but may only be brief.

MORE RAIN NEEDED FOR MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Recent precipitation in the Midwest included a lot of snow, which will slowly leak into the Mississippi River system. The local shots of precipitation in the Delta have helped to raise water levels some, but are still low. Though some showers will move through the south on Thursday, the lack of heavy precipitation in the forecast will likely mean another slow fall in water levels for the next couple of weeks.

FRONT STALLING IN CENTRAL BRAZIL WITH MUCH-NEEDED RAINFALL

A front has stalled over central Brazil and is producing scattered showers. Rainfall amounts on Tuesday were promising as models have not forecast this well in recent weeks. The current lack of significant soil moisture is likely to be noticeable with developing soybeans, some of which should be flowering. Soil moisture is still favorable farther south, but the frequency of rainfall has certainly fallen, which is starting a slow drying process that may be more noticeable in a couple of weeks if this keeps up.

ARGENTINA GETTING RAIN IN A DRIER STRETCH

Argentina will be dry for the rest of the week with the next front bringing showers in a patchy fashion this weekend into early next week. Heavy rain being sandwiched between long stretches of dry weather is likely producing variable conditions for developing corn and soybeans across the country.

WESTERN EUROPE STAYING IN AN ACTIVE PATTERN

Frequent systems in the Atlantic will favor northwestern Europe this week and next, but also Spain at times, which could use some more precipitation for vegetative winter wheat. Overall conditions are still favorable in most areas as a lot of the wheat is entering dormancy.

DROUGHT STILL A CONCERN FOR PORTIONS OF BLACK SEA REGION

Systems have been targeting Ukraine and northwestern Russia with scattered precipitation recently. Though precipitation has been better late this fall season, there are many areas with deficits, especially in southwestern Russia. Systems moving through Europe have only produced limited showers, which continues this week and mostly across Ukraine again. Above-normal temperatures have slowed the progress toward dormancy, but is finally occurring across all but the far southern areas as average temperatures continue to decline.

DRIER IN AUSTRALIA, PROMOTING FIELDWORK

Scattered showers moved across southern Australia this weekend into Monday, but missed a lot of others. Wheat and canola are undergoing harvest while cotton and sorghum are being planted. The later crops need some more moisture as those conditions are largely mixed across the country. Showers will be scant this week, though, and may be so next week as well.

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

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