CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas Through 18 March 2025

West Africa. Rain in the cocoa areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana is following the average week-to-week pattern of recent years. In Côte d’Ivoire, Veriground stations reported 51 mm average per site during the latest 30 days compared to past amounts of 42-82 mm on matching days of the previous five years. Fifty-eight of 76 sites reported some rain during the latest 10 days. Rain has been spreading north, which is typical. In Ghana, Veriground stations reported 47 mm during the latest 30 days compared to a history of 46-106 mm during matching days of recent years. Thirty-seven of 47 sites reported some rain during the latest 10 days.

Nigeria. There have been no reports of rain in the western cocoa area of Nigeria. Europe ERA5 monitoring shows perhaps some rain during the past week. This may mean that moderate rain has been present in some areas like in Ghana.

Forecasts: The Veriground reports from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana for 2025 have been close to the lowest matching reports. Forecasts for coming days show only small amounts. One can ask whether the climate of West Africa is becoming drier. Reports occasionally make this claim but there is little information. An examination of rain amounts in the cocoa are of Côte d’Ivoire since 1970 does not find a trend.

Other areas. Rain in Ecuador’s cocoa areas reached all Veriground stations with an average of 70 mm during the latest 10 days and 177 mm during the latest 30 days. The very heavy rain in Santo Domingo Province of northern Ecuador has slowed. The EU Copernicus system reports flooding during recent weeks. Peru’s met office reports that rain in the cocoa area has returned to near normal. In Brazil, rain near  Bahia’s cocoa was one third more than normal during Feb and remained high during early Mar. Some residents reported flooding. Rain in Para also was one third more than normal and appears to have continued. Rain in Sulawesi has slowed and returned to normal. ENSO. In its report for Mar, NOAA expects the current mild La Niña to fade to neutral during Mar-May. Reports tell that NOAA staffing has contracted by 20% due to cuts by the Trump administration.