CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas Through 26 January 2025

The Veriground website shows data collected within the latest 12 hours. Veriground is adding stations weekly and expects to cover Ghana’s entire cocoa- producing area by the end of March.

West Africa. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have continued to see little rain at VG and national stations, only small amounts at scattered places. Veriground stations show declining humidity although humidity is not less than the lowest levels reached during 2024. News reports tell of high temperatures and national stations agree. However, these reports are from cities, where decreased vegetation allows temperatures to vary more that in the countryside. VG stations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana show high temperatures below those of recent seasons. The difference probably is in the difference between conditions in cities and in the countryside. Reports of rain and temperature from Nigeria appear to be similar.

Forecasts based on history from VG stations project light, widespread showers across the cocoa area of Côte d’Ivoire on 24 Jan and lingering into 25 Jan. Forecasts for Ghana are similar. None of the forecast amounts are above 10 mm.  Most are around 5 mm on the 24th. (Forecasts are not yet available at the Veriground website.)

Other areas. After four dry months, rain in Ecuador’s cocoa areas has returned, tracking closely its average rate for this tracking closely its average rate for this time of year. VG stations report that temperatures have been average compared to recent years. Anecdotes tell that weather is perfect for cocoa. Rain in Peru’s cocoa area has fluctuated since Oct around its long-term average. In Brazil near the Bahia cocoa area, rain has slowed extensively since early Oct. The 30-day average has been half of normal since Oct. The latest 10 days have seen good amounts, which may signal a return to wetter conditions. Temperatures that were very high during most of 2024 have declined to average.  Rain for Para’s cocoa, after starting late is following its normal path toward a spring maximum. Sulawesi rain continues fluctuating around normal with medium-term oscillations typical of the equatorial Pacific. ENSO. Unchanged. The U.S. met office considers that a weak La Niña is present and will continue through about Apr.