IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!
Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see the latest around all growing regions.
MAJOR TROPICAL DISTURBANCE TO AFFECT CULIACÁN, SINALOA
A large tropical disturbance has formed in the Pacific off the southern tip of Baja CA. This storm will produce heavy rains over the growing regions of the southern Baja peninsula and northwest mainland Mexico.
Culiacán, Sinaloa, is expected to receive 4+” of rain starting later tonight and continuing through Friday. This region has started shipping cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, bell peppers, and are on the cusp of beginning their tomato harvest. Look for production to be disrupted by this storm. Culiacán will also see some cooler temperatures associated with the storm with minimums dropping into the 50°s by Saturday and remaining into next week.
Along the southern end of the Baja peninsula expect 2+” of rain around La Paz. This a big shipping area of tomatoes right now. The berry growing region of Ensenada, Baja CA, will receive 2+” of rain with minimum temperatures in the 40°s over the next three days.
SERIOUS STORM TO HIT WESTERN U.S.
The first winter storm of the season is poised to hit California growing regions starting today.
Since we last spoke of the storm on Friday the amount of rainfall has been downgraded from earlier estimates, but the colder temperatures are definitely coming. As of yesterday evening, when we wrote this article, Oxnard and Santa Maria are expected to see .5” over Wednesday and Thursday. Salinas is expected to receive 1+” between today and Thursday. All three regions will see cold minimum temperatures starting tomorrow with temperatures dropping to 33° for Wednesday/Thursday/Friday in Salinas and Santa Maria. Oxnard will dip into the upper 30°s. These are your three main California strawberry regions right now.
The desert regions of Coachella and Yuma will see a chance of rain on Thursday (.50”) and cooler temperatures. Coachella will see minimum temperatures drop into the low 30°s for consecutive nights while Yuma will dip into the low 40°s.
ANOTHER STORM ON THE HORIZON
The coastal California regions won’t get much of a chance to dry out before another storm is scheduled to hit Salinas starting Saturday and continuing through Tuesday bringing an additional 1+” of rain to all major regions. This rain will hit further south into Oxnard starting next Monday. Look for a reduction in production of strawberries over the next week.
PERFECT WEATHER IN FLORIDA THROUGH SUNDAY
The growing regions of central and southern Florida will experience high temperatures in the mid 80°s and minimums in the low 60°s through this Sunday without any chance of rain. Come next Monday the temperatures will drop by 10° to 15°s across the board with maximum temperatures in the low 70°s and minimum temperatures in the upper 40°s.
Immokalee will see minimum temperatures of 44° next Monday and Tuesday.
Thank you as always for your support and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
