Another Clipper Moves Through the North Today

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) — Another clipper will bring a band of moderate snow to the Northern and Central Plains later today. Meanwhile, heavier showers are expected in central Brazil this weekend with showers trending more isolated across Argentina. These are the weather factors driving the markets for Thursday.

MIDWEST WILL SEE ANOTHER CLIPPER BY FRIDAY

A clipper provided a band of snow to southern Minnesota on Wednesday and will continue working through the eastern half of the region on Thursday, bringing more scattered showers but also some colder air. Another will follow quickly for Friday which may have some streaks of heavier precipitation for southern areas. Several more clippers will move through next week and temperatures are beginning to show a trend towards above normal.

SNOW EXPECTED FOR THE CENTRAL PLAINS, DRIER CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

A clipper system provided some showers to northern areas on Wednesday. Another will move through the region later on Thursday and Friday. But that one may be able to tap into more moisture and bring a few more streaks of showers, which may include some moderate snow. Clippers are likely to move through the area next week as well. Temperatures could cool down at times between systems the rest of this week but are trending towards above normal next week.

SNOW CHANCES CONTINUE FOR THE NORTHERN PLAINS

A band of moderate to heavy snow fell across South Dakota Wednesday, providing up to eight inches of snow across east-central South Dakota. Several small systems will continue to move through the region over the next couple of weeks. They may not bring much widespread precipitation, though some streaks of heavier snow will be possible. Cooler air will stick around through Friday but warmer temperatures will return this weekend and next week.

RAIN AND SNOW FOR THE DELTA THIS WEEKEND

Heavy rain went through the region earlier this week, which continues to ease drought conditions and flooding has been more significant recently. Another system will come through on Friday and Saturday with more potential for rain and snow. By early next week, a system will break off from the atmospheric river in the West and provide light showers to the area. Warmer temperatures will also return next week after a quick shot of cooler air this weekend.

FIELDWORK DELAYS POSSIBLE IN CENTRAL BRAZIL BY EARLY NEXT WEEK

Scattered showers across central Brazil remain isolated. A front moving north from Argentina will bring heavier rain to southern and eastern areas. The south has been too dry for several weeks and needs the rain. By the weekend and early next week, showers are forecast to be widespread and heavy for central areas, beneficial for everything but fieldwork as soybeans are still being harvest and safrinha corn is still being planted. Southern areas will not be wet for long as it gets unfavorably dry again next week.

CHANCES FOR WEEKEND RAIN IN ARGENTINA DIMINISH

Heavy rain returned to the region and put an end to the hot and dry conditions that caused corn and soybeans to suffer from mid-January. Soil moisture has increased and crop conditions have stabilized. Another system is forecast to move into the country this weekend, but showers will remain isolated. Better chances for scattered showers may return by the middle to end of next week as a few disturbances pass by to the south.

SHOWERS STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOUTHERN EUROPE LATE THIS WEEK

The main storm track will be farther north for the rest of this week, though some showers may go through Spain on Thursday and southeastern areas and Italy this weekend. While crops are vulnerable to winterkill with no significant snow cover, there are no risks of arctic freeze. Temperatures are favored to be above normal through this weekend and early next week.

HOT AND DRY FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK

Eastern areas will have daily chances for isolated to scattered showers into next week. Heat across the west and southeast could be detrimental for cotton and sorghum, but more so across the west as any chances for precipitation will be limited into next week.

Teresa Wells can be reached at teresa.deutchman@dtn.com.