Potential frost in Brazil raising concerns for coffee and wheat

Frost is a distinct possibility across southern Brazil next week as high pressure promotes some very cold mornings.

Currently, lows are expected to dip into the low to mid 30s F across southern Sao Paulo and northern Parana in Center-South Brazil, with lows in the upper 20s F possible in central and southern Parana and Santa Catarina on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

"Frost would not bode well for coffee beans and heading winter wheat in these areas," said Don Keeney, Senior Agricultural Meteorologist for MDA Weather Services. "Heading wheat is very sensitive to temperatures below freezing, and coffee is also quite sensitive to cold conditions, thus some damage is possible to these crops."

Temperatures should begin to warm again later next week, and frost threats should subside at that point.