Much anticipated rainfall returned to portions of Argentina in the fourth week of January, week-ending Jan. 28. However, not all areas received beneficial rainfall. Areas northwest of Buenos Aires saw the most substantial rainfall. In fact, this was one of the wettest final weeks of January in 30+ years for the Salta province, according to data from WeatherTrends360. More rainfall will be needed to reverse the current drought trends as Argentina struggles with one of the worst droughts in decades.
Areas closer to southern Brazil saw lighter or no rainfall, and those trends bled over into southern Brazil. For Rio Grande do Sul, this was the sixth driest and the first hottest fourth week of January in 30+ years. The hot and dry conditions in southern Brazil are likely to put crop yields into jeopardy.
Meanwhile, plentiful rainfall continued to be the trend in central Brazil. In Mato Grosso, this was the ninth wettest fourth week of January in 30+ years. While the rainfall this season has been beneficial for crops, as the soybean harvest picks up steam, a break in the wet weather would help to speed along the soybean harvest and subsequent planting of the second corn crop.
As January 2023 comes to an end and February begins, there will be more chances of rainfall in Argentina. According to forecasts from WeatherTrends360, the week-ending Feb. 4 will be the 11th wettest in 30+ years for Argentina’s major soybean-growing regions. Again, rainfall could be hit-or-miss with the highest amounts located northwest of Buenos Aires.
Even southern Brazil has a chance at seeing an increase in rainfall with precipitation trending closer to, if not above, normal for the start of February 2023. Mato Grosso looks to see some breaks in the rain with rainfall trending closer to, if not below, normal which should help with the soybean harvest. Temperatures shouldn’t be a huge issue this week, except for some heat in Rio Grande do Sul to start the week
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