Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

Southern U.S. Heaving Soil, Livestock Stress Induce Concern

Kansas City, February 19 (World Weather Inc.) – Temperatures have been on a bit of roller coaster ride in the southern Plains, Delta and southeastern states in recent weeks. The environment has sent temperatures well below freezing and then well above freezing and now back well below freezing. The impact has been stressful on livestock while threatening winter wheat. Concern over animal health and some winter crops has risen, although the impact overall may be low. The cycle will continue with bitter cold into Thursday and then much warmer weather this weekend.

Brazil Moisture Profile May Not Be Ideal At End of Rainy Season

Kansas City, February 18 (World Weather Inc.) – An unexpected ridge of high pressure impacted Brazil grain, oilseed, coffee, citrus and sugarcane weather in the past couple of weeks ending a very wet period and bringing on a bout of much drier weather. The ridge is unlikely to hold in place long enough to make dryness a chronic problem; however, the diminishing influence of La Nina is having an impact too and that change may reduce some of the rainfall that was previously expected. As a result, the next 30 days of precipitation in center west and center south Brazil will be a little lighter than usual which “may” leave soil moisture a little lighter than usual when the rainy season ends in April.

Weekly Citrus Weather For Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Kansas City, February 18 (World Weather Inc.) – Several counties in Florida’s citrus region were again mostly dry during the past week. Irrigation was being used across the state to support relatively good conditions for tree and fruit development. The region will see a mix of spotty rain and sunshine during the coming week. Resulting rainfall will be too light to fix moisture deficits and producers will continue to rely on irrigation. In Brazil, several areas in Sao Paulo and southwestern Minas Gerais received limited rainfall during the past week and the outlook calls for continued drier than usual conditions in the next seven days. Greater rain may begin to fall in Sao Paulo during mid- to late-week next week. The main citrus areas will have ample moisture to support new growth, though the need for rain will increase late this month into early March. Mexico’s citrus areas will also have a few opportunities for rain during the coming week that will be beneficial for the citrus that is flowering.

Central, Northern Argentina Will See Drier Weather Return

Kansas City, February 18 (World Weather Inc.) – Significant rain was noted in a large section of Argentina’s production region during the past week. The rain was welcome and helped improve development conditions. However, dry and hot weather earlier in the growing season has already hurt production potentials in several locations. Rainfall will be restricted to Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Formosa, and immediate neighboring areas during the coming week while the remaining production areas receive little to no rain. Most locations will have enough moisture to support new growth during the next several days. However, the need for rain will again increase late this month and early March to avoid additional production cuts due to dryness.