Storm Potential for Thanksgiving, Cold Air Coming

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) — Some snow and a taste of winter for the U.S., and overall fair weather for now in South America are the weather factors driving the markets Friday.

MORE PRECIPITATION MOVING THROUGH THE MIDWEST

Scattered mixed showers continue around the Great Lakes Friday, but mostly as rain after the snow moved through on Thursday. The pattern stays active going into December, so drought areas will get more chances for precipitation next week. One system will move through Sunday and Monday, and another will move across the south in the middle of next week. Much colder air should fill into the region by the end of next week as well, helping to cool soil temperatures for fall fertilizer application in more areas.

THANKSGIVING TRAVEL HAZARDS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

A system will likely miss to the north this weekend, but another will likely bring a mix of rain and snow for Wednesday, causing hazards for travel during the holiday. Colder air moving in after the system will push more of the wheat crop into dormancy.

SNOW THIS WEEKEND IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS

A system will move through the Northern Plains over the weekend with some light snow and a couple of disturbances could bring more light snow through the region next week. Very cold air is building in Canada, leaking out into the region through the weekend, but will be more intense next week.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVELS FALLING AGAIN

Water levels on the Mississippi River are still above the low mark due to recent heavy rain across the Plains and Midwest, but are falling again. More rain is needed in the Ohio Valley to maintain or make long-lasting improvements, and there is some potential there. A storm that moves through during the middle of next week is forecast to bring through some moderate precipitation.

RAIN WEAKER, BUT STILL GOOD WEATHER IN BRAZIL

Wet season showers continue in central Brazil, though they are forecast to weaken and become more isolated over the weekend. That should be brief as the showers fill back in later next week, and mostly favorable conditions continue for soybean establishment and growth. Southern areas have seen scattered showers this week. More rain is forecast to move in during the middle of next week and spread through central Brazil. That should keep conditions mostly favorable.

MORE SHOWERS COMING FOR ARGENTINA THIS WEEKEND, NEXT WEEK

Though some isolated showers may move through Argentina over the next couple of days, most areas will remain dry. Another system moves through this weekend into early next week with widespread rainfall being forecast again. Some patches are starting to dry out, and if the system misses these same areas, there could be some poor growing conditions. But overall, the weather is still mostly favorable in the country. The threat of heat and dryness due to the building La Nina may be a threat later in the season as well.

SHOWERS CONTINUE IN EUROPE, BECOMING MORE ISOLATED NEXT WEEK

Widespread showers continue across Europe through the weekend. This precipitation is helping southeastern areas that have been much drier while keeping soil moisture very high across the rest of the continent. Though the pattern quiets down somewhat next week, additional showers and systems are still expected. 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 have increased across much of Australia over the last week, unfavorable for fieldwork and winter harvest, but good for cotton and sorghum planting and establishment. A system will bring showers to the east this weekend and next week and more showers are expected to develop for the west on Sunday. Overall, this should improve soil moisture in a lot of areas.

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