Market Perspectives June 28, 2013

U.S. Weather/Crop Progress


U.S. Drought Monitor Weather Forecast: The NWS WPC four-day (June 28-July 1) Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) shows the best chances for precipitation east of the Mississippi River, with the heaviest rains possible in the Ohio Valley and Northeast as well as the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, where 2-3 inches or more could fall. West of the Mississippi, prospects look much bleaker, with only modest rains being forecasted. Temperatures over this same period look to be seasonable or even below-normal over the Eastern third of the U.S. in combination with the forecasted rains. The same can’t be said for the West, where temperatures will build in concert with the high pressure ridging there, bringing the prospects of well above-normal readings (in the 6- to 13-degree range) in California, the Intermountain West, the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies.

The six- to 10-day (July 2-6) outlooks are showing that temperatures are likely to stay above normal in the Intermountain West and Pacific Northwest, including all of California.The Northeast appears more likely to be above-normal on the temperature side too. The Central U.S. looks to be cooler-than-normal from the Front Range to the Ohio Valley. As for precipitation, the Southeast and Northeast look to be wetter-than-normal, as do parts of Southern Nevada, Northern Arizona and Central New Mexico in what may signal a start to the monsoon. Below-normal precipitation is expected in northern reaches of the Pacific Northwest (Washington over to Montana) and over into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Follow this link to view current U.S. and international weather patterns and the future outlook:Weather and Crop Bulletin