PE Peru grape production Piura

The initial impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon has been positive for producers in north Peru, according to the country’s meteorological office.

Abraham Levy of the National Meteorological and Hydrology Service, Senamhi, said recent rainfall in the northern valleys had enabled reservoir levels to be restocked after a drier-tan-usual rainy season.

“Up to now it had been a bad year in terms of rainfall and it was looking unlikely that reservoirs would be refilled during the autumn,” he told RRP Noticias. “But the situation has changed during the past week, with rising sea temperatures warming up coastal zones and bringing rains to coastal valleys.”

Levy said the weather phenomenon is expected to exert its influence – albeit weakly – during the months of May and June.