Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

South Africa To Receive More Rain; Crop Prospects Good

Kansas City, December 18 (World Weather Inc.) – Most of South Africa’s summer crop region saw a good mix of rain and sunshine during the past week. The rain helped support relatively good establishment and early-season development in the coarse grain, oilseed, and cotton areas. Periods of drier weather allowed for continued planting as well. South Africa will have several opportunities for erratic rainfall for at least the next seven days as well. Additional rain will help bolster or keep soil moisture at adequate to excessive levels. Establishment and development conditions will remain favorable in much of the country.

Impressive Windstorm Impacts NW, North-Central U.S.

Kansas City, December 18 (World Weather Inc.) – An impressive windstorm impacted portions of North America Wednesday and early Thursday as a deep low pressure center developed very quickly over southern Alberta, Canada and moved to northern Minnesota overnight. The storm produced damaging wind from the U.S. Pacific Northwest through the northern and some central Rocky Mountain locations into the northwestern and west-central Great Plains. Power Outages and damage to both personal property and infrastructure resulted. The same storm produced blizzard conditions across the southern Canada Prairies into North Dakota creating hazardous travel conditions and stress for livestock.

Morocco Receives Best Rain In Years; Much More Needed

Kansas City, December 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Rain was scattered across portions of northwestern Africa during the past week with some areas getting significant amounts while others did not. Portions of Morocco received some of the greatest one-week rain totals seen in years. Morocco’s multi-year drought in the southwest was partially eased though much more rain was needed to restore water supply and soil moisture to normal. Most of the rain in Algeria and Tunisia was not enough to counter evaporation and dryness remains in some of those areas, although drought has not been a problem outside of northwestern Algeria and southwestern Morocco. Additional rain is expected through the middle of next week; though the greatest amounts will miss the driest areas in Morocco. Improved planting, emergence and establishment conditions are likely to follow this bout of rain which “may” improve 2026 production potentials for wheat, barley and other crops, but much more rain will be needed soon to sustain that potential.

SE Asia Too Wet; Threats Of Localized Flooding Persist

Kansas City, December 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Several locations in Southeast Asia have been unusually wet in recent weeks. Severe flooding was noted in portions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and a few locations in Thailand and Vietnam due to the periods of excessive rainfall. In the past week, significant rainfall was noted in portions of Indonesia and Malaysia, along with peninsular Thailand, portions of Luzon Island and Samar Island in the Philippines. Localized flooding was again noted for at least some of these locations with minor crop and structural damage suspected. Waves of rain are again slated for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Luzon Island, Philippines through the next ten days. The threat for flooding remains high and additional crop and structural damage will be possible.