While some were delighted by the rare opportunity to build snowmen and marvel at the white flakes, the cold snap may also come with harsh consequences for farmers because it could destroy key export crops. Earlier this week, coffee prices soared to a six-year high over fears that Brazilian coffee plants were under threat. Frost also fell over sugarcane fields in the state of São Paulo, which is responsible for over 60% of Brazil’s sugar output. And oranges, another crucial export, are also at risk.
Even before the cold, farmers and water systems in parts of the country are also under stress from drought. For some areas, it’s the worst drought in 90 years and brings back shades a 2014 drought that nearly caused São Paulo’s main reservoirs to run dry.
Cold air will continue plaguing Brazil into the weekend. Temperatures are expected to continue to fall in the coming days and more snow could be on the way, according to Inmet, Brazil’s meteorological institute.
It adds to the series of bizarre weather events around the world in recent weeks, including a rash of wildfires from Siberia to California and ripples of extreme heat across the northern hemisphere. As always, one cold snap doesn’t disprove the planet is overheating (and in fact, northern hemisphere cold snaps could become more common because of the climate crisis).
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July 30, 2021 at 11:35PM
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