January 2002

WEATHER BRIEFS

Argentina: Late December Rainfall Stabilizes Summer Crop Prospects

During November 2001, rainfall was above normal across central Argentina, generally favoring germinating summer crops and filling to maturing winter wheat. However, below-normal rainfall in southern Cordoba slowed corn planting and reduced soil moisture supplies. During the first half of December 2001, central Argentina remained mostly dry reducing soil moisture. During the week of December 16 - 22, dry weather prevailed from southern Cordoba and La Pampa eastward through western Buenos Aires, favoring winter wheat maturation and harvesting , but further reducing topsoil moisture for germinating to vegetative summer crops. Farther north, late-week rains fell in central and northern Cordoba, Santa Fe, and northward through Chaco and Formosa, providing adequate to abundant moisture for summer crop development. During the following week, December 23 - 29, rainfall benefitted vegetative summer crops across La Pampa and northern Buenos Aires, while dryness stressed summer crops in south-central Cordoba. Scattered showers fell across northern Argentina, where moisture supplies remain adequate for cotton. Finally, during the first week of 2002, widespread showers boosted soil moisture, benefitting vegetative to early reproductive corn and vegetative soybeans across central Argentina. In southern Buenos Aires, local heavy rains hampered winter wheat maturation.

Northwestern Africa: December Rainfall Improves Winter Grain Prospects

Planting of winter grains begins in earnest across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia during November and continues through December. Planting can continue into January if autumn rains arrive later than normal. During November 2001 dry weather in Morocco slowed winter grain planting, while near- to above-normal rainfall in Algeria and Tunisia favored planting and early emergence of winter grains. During the last three weeks of December rainfall was frequent and widespread across Morocco, replenishing soil moisture and improving prospects for winter grain emergence and early growth. Across Tunisia and Algeria rainfall tapered off during December from the above normal amounts experienced in November. This caused some stress to young winter grains due to dryness. During the first full week of January 2002, rainfall was light and scattered in Algeria and Tunisia and almost non-existent across Morocco. By January 8, winter grains were mostly in the vegetative stage across this region. A good soaking rain region-wide would help maintain good crop conditions.

South Asia: Post-Monsoon Weather Promotes Summer Crop
Harvest and Winter Crop Establishment

During November 2001, lingering monsoon showers gradually receded from major rice areas of eastern India and Bangladesh. The drier weather allowed fieldwork, including main-season (kharif) rice harvesting, to intensify. By month’s end, showers were confined to a seasonal position over southernmost India and Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, dry, warmer-than-normal weather favored harvesting of cotton and other summer crops. Warm and dry weather favored summer crop harvesting during December 2001 across much of the Indian Subcontinent. In north-central India (Punjab and adjacent areas), somewhat light but frequent showers boosted moisture reserves for germination of winter grains and oilseeds. Winter wheat and oilseed planting and establishment likely made good progress across Pakistan and northern India during November and December.

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