Clipper Bringing Brief Cold, Warm Air for Christmas Week
An active and overall warm pattern to end the year in the U.S., and the potential for showers in Argentina are the weather factors driving the markets Thursday.
MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) — An active and overall warm pattern to end the year in the U.S., and the potential for showers in Argentina are the weather factors driving the markets Thursday.
CLIPPER BRINGING BURST OF COLDER AIR, HEAVY SNOW TO THE MIDWEST
A clipper moving through the Midwest Thursday and Friday is bringing through a band of heavier snow to the north, while also bringing through some briefly colder air and lake-effect snow for the weekend. The pattern stays active next week with several systems moving through. Some drought reduction is possible as temperatures rise well above normal to end the year.
PRECIPITATION POTENTIAL INCREASING FOR SOUTHWESTERN PLAINS NEXT WEEK
Wheat areas in the western Plains have been drier lately, a continued pattern since a wet November. The pattern may be a little more favorable for precipitation next week as several systems move through with potential for precipitation, mostly in the form of rain with very warm temperatures in the region.
COLDER AIR, STREAK OF HEAVY SNOW IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS, WARMER NEXT WEEK
A clipper is continuing a band of heavier snow in the Northern Plains on Thursday, followed by another quick burst of colder air. Any cold should not last long as warmer air spreads back in again this weekend. The pattern stays active with multiple systems moving through this weekend and next week, but with little precipitation forecast for the region.
ACTIVE PATTERN IS HELPFUL FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Recent showers in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys have given a bump to water levels on the rivers and the pattern is favoring more rain in the basin through next week with several systems and fronts. That should help to give a longer bump to the water levels, removing restrictions for transport across the Lower Mississippi for a while.
OVERALL GOOD WEATHER CONTINUES IN BRAZIL
Overall good weather conditions continue with scattered wet season showers in central Brazil and fronts continuing to come up from Argentina with scattered showers for southern states. This general pattern is forecast to continue through next week, favoring flowering to filling soybeans and developing corn. Southern areas are getting below normal amounts, though it is timely.
SCATTERED SHOWERS FOR ARGENTINA
A front that is moving out of Argentina on Thursday brought isolated showers to the country but hit the important state of Cordoba with good precipitation. Another couple of fronts will move through this weekend and next week. Precipitation will be spotty, and areas are going to be missed, especially in the southeast, and that could lead to other dry areas developing.
TOO WET IN NORTHWEST EUROPE
Several waves of systems, fronts, and showers are forecast to move through Europe through early next week, keeping up overly wet soils in the northwest, but maintaining or improving soil moisture for most other areas. Spain is forecast to be on the lighter end, though, and could use more rain.
DRIER IN AUSTRALIA
The pattern continues to be drier to end the year in Australia with only limited showers. That helps with the remaining wheat and canola harvest, but will dry out soils for cotton and sorghum after recent rains had improved conditions there.
John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com