BRRRRRRR!: VERY UNUSUAL SNOW HITS CHILE'S GRAPE GROWING REGION

The Chilean grape province of Copiapó was hit with unusual snow on Jul. 30 and Aug. 1, which the industry estimates has caused around US$40 million in damages.

Industry body Fedefruta says the snow has affected around 1,200 hectares of land and the loss of 1.5 million grape cartons.

“This harvest was scheduled for October and November and is the first part of the export season, which is why we are very concerned about this situation and we will keep you informed in the coming days with respect to the impacts these climatic phenomena have caused,” says Fedefruta president Antonio Walker.

He sums up the situation as a ‘fairly big disaster’ and the true damage results will probably be known next week.

... not only were there snows from 7am to 7pm in the area, but that was followed by temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) afterwards, with temperatures between -7ºC (19.4ºF) and -8ºC (17.6ºF) in the Iglesia Colorada Manflas sector.

... “Typically these weather events are more local. I’ve talked to producers who have never seen anything like it.”

IOW: AGW = TFBS.