El Niño may already be impacting fruit production in Peru, according to the country’s meteorological office. Senamhi reported that the effects of the phenomenon have been strengthening since May and are affecting mango, citrus and grape production in northern Peru.
Wilfredo Izarra, agrometeorology specialist at Senamhi, claimed the temperature rise was inhibiting floral induction in mangoes, which requires temperatures to fall below 17-18 oC.The higher temperatures are also reported to be affecting grape crops in the Ica Valley in central Peru.
Grinia Avalos, director of Senamhi’s Climatology Unit, told Andina that the presence of Kelvin waves had caused temperatures off the north coast to rise by 4oC in recent weeks.
“We have noted some temperature anomalies off the northern coast of the country,” she said. “We still cannot tell if the cold waters will be able to reverse the mass of warm water – it depends on the progress of the South Pacific anticyclone to the north.”
Senamhi is monitoring the system closely as it tries to determine how strong it is likely to be and said it would announce its results in the next three months. Meanwhile, the office predicts that the 2-3oC rise in temperatures in northern and central Peru will continue for the foreseeable future.
