Dry U.S. Midwest weather bodes well for harvest

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Midwest weather is seen mostly dry through the next week, ideal for the corn and soybean harvest, a forecaster said on Friday.

"This is outstanding weather. Considering the time of the year, this is about as good as you're going to get," said Mike Palmerino with DTN Meteorlogix.

For the overall Midwest temperatures are expected to be normal to above normal November 11 through November 15.

In the western Midwest, dry weather should continue through the weekend, with a chance of some light rain on Monday. The western region will be dry again into Tuesday and Wednesday. However, on Thursday there a slight chance of light showers, but still mostly dry, he said.

"We're not expecting any significant rainfall over the six to 10 days. Any of the occasional light rain we will see will not be any hindrance to the harvest," Palmerino said.

"We would expect the harvest to proceed at a fairly rapid rate over the next 10 days," he said.

In the eastern Midwest, the six- to 10-day outlook calls for mostly dry conditions. But there is a slight chance of few light showers over the weekend and early next week.

"We would not have thought that November would be turning out as favorable as it is considering how much cold and wet weather we've seen all growing season," Palmerino said.