Cold Air Rushing in This Week

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) — Cold air moving into the U.S. east of the Rockies and a return of some heavier rain in South America are the weather factors driving the markets Monday.

SYSTEMS, COLD MOVING THROUGH MIDWEST

Showers continued across the eastern Midwest on Friday, but the weekend was mostly quiet. A system moving through on Monday will bring temperatures down a bit and produce some light showers. Another system will move through southern areas Wednesday and Thursday with a mix of rain and snow. Cold air flowing in behind it will produce some occasional light snow across the region, and heavier snow east of the Great Lakes. Cold air will have a tendency to continue flowing in next week as well, keeping the lake-effect going.

SYSTEM WEAK AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

It was quiet in the Central and Southern Plains over the weekend, though a cold front moved in on Sunday and continues to push southeast on Monday, bringing some colder air. A system will develop in southern Colorado on Tuesday night and move through on Wednesday with some areas of light showers. Another burst of colder air will move through behind it. Several more bursts of colder air may move in over the weekend and next week and may produce occasional light showers. The colder air will help to push more wheat into dormancy, mostly in good condition.

VERY COLD IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS

A system went through the Northern Plains over the weekend with scattered showers. Several disturbances will bring down colder air from the Canadian Prairies and occasional snow showers throughout this week and likely next week as well. Temperatures will be very cold, and some records may be broken.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVELS CONTINUE TO SLIP LOWER

Water levels on the Mississippi River are still above the low mark due to recent heavy rain across the Plains and Midwest, but are slowly falling. More rain is needed in the Ohio Valley to maintain or make long-lasting improvements. A storm that moves through during the middle of the week is forecast to bring through some moderate precipitation in just the right areas and should help with the river levels for a bit. But the pattern will be much drier afterward with cold air descending through the country.

HEAVIER RAIN RETURNING TO BRAZIL AFTER SHORT BREAK

Scattered showers became isolated over central Brazil over the weekend, focusing farther to the north. A front moving into Argentina will get into southern areas midweek and enhance showers over central Brazil by the end of the week. Several more fronts coming from Argentina should keep the country active through next week with mostly good growing conditions.

HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHERN ARGENTINA THIS WEEK

A front started to move into Argentina on Sunday and is expected to produce scattered showers through Wednesday before moving north. An additional front or two may come through afterward through early next week. Precipitation is forecast to be heavier over northern areas and some areas in the central and south will need more rainfall. The threat of heat and dryness due to the building La Nina may be a threat later in the season as well.

SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH EUROPE

Showers decreased across Europe over the weekend, but another system is moving through Monday and Tuesday with another to follow mid-late week that could stick around the south into next week. Precipitation is helping southeastern areas that have been much drier while keeping soil moisture very high across the rest of the continent. Wheat is going dormant from north to south in mostly good condition, though some wet spots are not all that favorable.

GOOD RECENT RAINFALL IN AUSTRALIA

Scattered showers moved into eastern Australia over the weekend and another system will move through the same areas early- to mid-week with additional rainfall. The rain is unfavorable for fieldwork and winter harvest, but good for cotton and sorghum planting and establishment. Soil moisture is improving in many areas, though the pattern looks a little drier next week.

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