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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts drought will likely persist or worsen in key US wheat-growing regions this winter. A developing La NiΓ±a pattern will shape US weather from Dec-24 to Feb-25. NOAA predicts wetter-than-average conditions for the northern US, especially in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes areas. However, drier-than-average conditions will likely affect the southern US, covering much of the critical winter wheat-producing regions.