CHICAGO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Little change in midday weather forecasts were noted for the drought-stricken U.S. Midwest crop region with some relief still expected from showers and cooler temperatures over the next week to 10 da y s, an agricultural meteorologist said on Wednesday.
However, meteorologists also said that a turn to wetter and cooler weather did n o t mean the drought was over.
"No major changes from the theme. There might be a little less rain for southeast Iowa tonight and tomorrow but increased rain in Missouri. There is a little more rain for the weekend in the northwest," said Drew Lerner, a m et eorologist for World Weather Inc.
Lerner said there were no signs that a moisture-robbing heat-producing high pressure ridge would be rebuilding soon over the Midwest crop region.
"No major ridge building, nothing to indicate another buildup of the ridge or extremely hot weather," Lerner said.
The rain and cooler temperatures will provide relief for late-season soybeans, but the change in the weather is arriving too late to help the already severely damaged corn crop.
"It's definitely better than what we've had but I'd be hesitant to call it a drought-buster. Longer-term outlooks still look like a return to warm and dry," said Jason Nicholls, a meteorologist for AccuWeather.
Nicholls said 0.25 inch to 0.75 inch of rain, with locally heavier amounts, was expected in roughly 75 percent of the Midwest from Wednesday through Friday morning, and a similar weather system is expected next week.
"Temperatures will be cooler into the weekend, much more seasonal, then warmer again next week, but not the extreme heat we've had," Nicholls said.
Temperatures in the 80s (degrees Fahrenheit) are expected in the Midwest for the next several days, rather than the 90s F and low 100s F that have been slashing corn and soybean production prospects.
"For the next 10 days we'll chip away at the moisture deficit, but it looks warmer and drier again longer term," Nicholls said.
Corn and soybean prices were driven to record highs in late July as the drought worsened, trimming crop production. Prices for both have since been easing a bit due to the turn to cooler weather accompanied by some showers.
Commodity Weather Group (CWG) on Wednesday said about one-third of the Midwest soybean crop could remain under significant stress from lack of moisture.
CWG also said the popular weather models on which forecasts are based were in some disagreement on Wednesday about the amount of moisture the Midwest is likely to receive over the next couple of days. The dueling forecasts led to some skepticism that significant rains would fall.
And the worst drought in over a half century has spread to the lush U.S. Delta crop region in the lower Mississippi, where vast areas of soybeans, cotton and rice are grown.
"Rain chances are slim in the Delta in the next five days, and stress continues to hinder ... crops in the northwestern half of the region, mainly double-crop soybeans in Arkansas, Mississippi, western Tennessee and western Kentucky," said CWG meteorologist Joel Widenor.
Relentless heat and drought have slashed prospects for the U.S. corn crop to a five-year low. The supply of corn next year is expected to fall to its lowest lever in nearly 20 years. (nL2E8J701W)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday will release its August crop report and traders were bracing for the worst.
U.S. soybean inventories could fall to their lowest level in 32 years as the drought continues to trim U.S. soybean production prospects. (nL2E8J64R1)
Soybean conditions began to stabilize last week on improved weather in a broad swath of the Midwest, while corn conditions declined again. The ratings for both remained the worst since 1988.
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