Frost hits crops in Brazil’s Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul and in Paraguay – Rural Clima

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the early hours of Tuesday, frost hit agricultural regions of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, with potential losses to corn areas and intense cold is expected to persist on Wednesday, Rural Clima said in a report.

In Paraguay, which usually exports corn to Brazil, frost was “extremely strong,” said agrometeorologist Marco Antônio dos Santos.

The impact of the weather phenomenon could have been stronger had it not been for rainfall recorded in some regions.

“It rained in some areas, this somewhat mitigated the widespread frost mainly in the north of Paraná and some areas of Mato Grosso do Sul. However, the high-pressure center remained over Paraguay,” Santos said.

“Extremely strong frost – from strong to very strong, there was no moderate frost in Paraguay, probably destroyed everything,” the meteorologist said, noting that losses will only become clearer in the coming days.

According to him, the south of Mato Grosso do Sul and the west of Paraná also experienced frost. “Unfortunately the forecasts were confirmed, and tomorrow (Wednesday) the day should be even colder, the polar mass is gaining strength,” he said. He added that the risk of frost is low for coffee areas on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to SIMEPAR, Paraná’s weather monitoring agency, the strong wave of cold air will intensify even further over all regions of the state between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. “The cold will be severe in all areas of Paraná, including beaches, and frost is expected,” he said.

SIMEPAR is now forecasting moderate frost for a wide stretch of the state, which extends from the west and covers the whole northern part of Paraná. Strong frosts are forecast for almost half of Paraná, from mid-state to the south.

The second corn crop in Paraná, Brazil’s second largest producer behind Mato Grosso, is estimated at 9.8 million tons by the Department of Rural Economics (DERAL), which so far expects the crop to decline by about 5 million tons from its initial potential due to the impact of the drought. The figures should change depending on how the cold weather will impact crops.