USDA estimates for major crops were largely unchanged from the previous month, resulting in muted market reactions. For wheat, the USDA maintained its U.S. production, supply, and ending stocks forecasts with no revisions. Global wheat production was adjusted slightly higher, largely due to increased output estimates in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, partially offset by a smaller Australian crop.
Sunday and Monday bring the main event, and the models are tightly converged on a long-duration storm with heavy snow, strong northeast to north winds, and the best totals centered on northern Wisconsin and northern Lower Michigan. The main spread is not storm timing but exactly where the most intense band parks and how much the snow densifies Sunday afternoon, especially at the lower Michigan and southern Wisconsin hills.
Met Éireann is progressing in the area of more localised weather warnings, via the use of polygons to represent areas under warnings. This will mean a move away from county-based warnings to a sub-county-based warning approach, which will identify where the expected impacts will be in the county.
Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Louth will be under a Status Yellow wind warning and Met Éireann are warning of fallen trees and loose debris, as well as difficult travelling conditions associated with this warning. Counties Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin will be under also be under a Status Yellow rain warning and these counties can expect flooding, poor visibility and difficult travel conditions for the 24-hour period.
Met Éireann has issued weather warnings for 13 counties, saying bands of rain from Storm Chandra will be "heavy and persistent". The Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford are due to end at 11pm on Tuesday. Forecasters also issued a Status Yellow wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Carlow, Meath, Kildare, Monaghan and Cavan. The warnings will also be in effect until 11pm on Tuesday.
LATEST: More homes and businesses at risk as flood threat to peak this morning Series of Status Orange and Yellow warnings in place Coast Guard has asked public to stay away from waterways and exposed coastal areas Some schools may close today as flooding may affect transport The threat of flooding is set to peak this morning, with road networks expected to bear the brunt of the deluge. However, damage to residential and commercial properties is also likely, emergency services have warned.
"It will prove cold with some frost and ice in places on Friday morning, especially in the west and north," she said. "Munster and south Leinster will see cloud, but that will clear to leave dry and sunny conditions with a few isolated showers in the north and highest temperatures of 3C to 7C," she said. Friday night will prove mainly dry but very cold and frosty with some icy patches.