By  Mike Palmerino , DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist

December 19, 2017

Moderate to heavy rain is featured throughout the South American crop belt from Argentina through central Brazil during the days leading up to Christmas Day. (NOAA graphic by Nick Scalise)

Timely and beneficial rains are indicated for most of South America’s crop areas this week, including the dry sectors of Argentina and southern Brazil.

The rain would be useful. Concern has been building in the past few weeks due to very warm-to-hot and dry conditions in Argentina and southern Brazil. These conditions have a possible relationship to a weak La Nina event in the Pacific Ocean. However, the forecast has a change developing, with the heat and dryness giving way to scattered showers and thunderstorms and more moderate temperatures during December 19-25.

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