Coffee Weather

Hot and dry conditions occurred in Brazil coffee production areas Friday into Sunday. A similar situation was expected to prevail for another seven days with the earliest possible opportunity for rain early next week, but even then the resulting rainfall is expected to be erratic benefiting some areas more than others. In the meantime, Tropical Storm Gonzalo will bring torrential rain and strong wind across Puerto Rico raising some risk of damage to coffee production areas.

No measurable rainfall occurred in coffee areas Friday through Sunday morning. Highest temperatures Friday and Saturday were in the 30s Celsius except in eastern Bahia and in one central Minas Gerais location where a few upper 20s were noted. The hottest temperatures occurred from northern Parana to northern Sao Paulo and from northern Minas Gerais to central Bahia where readings were in the upper 30s. Lowest morning temperatures were in the teens to lower 20s with one location not far from northern Sul de Minas reporting 12.

Hot temperatures will prevail over the coming week while rainfall is minimal. Daily highs will range in the 30s to near 40 most often with one or two locations getting to 41 before the week is out. Most of the hottest conditions will not be in the heart of key coffee areas, but may impact portions of northern Sao Paulo and both western and northern Minas Gerais to possibly central Bahia. A few upper 20s will continue near the Atlantic Coast

Low temperatures at night will be mostly in the teens and lower 20s, but a few readings of 10 to 12 may still occur in the next night or two.

"The heat and dryness will more severely stress coffee trees already suffering from limited soil moisture. Recently flowered crops in the south will likely lose their blossoms without experiencing successful pollination and that will reduce the crop a little more."

Rainfall is possible next week, but only as scattered showers and thunderstorms. The precipitation will be welcome as relief from the previous ten days of hot, dry, conditions. However, it is still quite unclear how significant the precipitation will be. World Weather, Inc. anticipates slowly improving rainfall as the month draws to a close with early November precipitation expected to be most significant.