IRI Climate Information Digest - Impacts April 1999
HAZARDS/THREATS
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Extreme La Niña related dry conditions over
central Chile during the 1998 rainy season have severely compromised current
power generation capabilities. Parts of the country was subjected
to daily scheduled power outages to conserve energy.
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Extremely dry conditions continued in northeastern
Brazil. There were reports of water rationing in the city of Recife,
with water available only a few hours per day.
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Heavy rains continue to cause local flooding over
the Philippines.
AGRICULTURE
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Southern Russia and Ukraine experienced warm and
dry conditions favorable for greening of winter grains for spring planting.
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Morocco experienced unfavorable dry conditions for
maturing winter grains. Unfavorably dry condition also covered much
of Spain for most of the month.
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In Australia, La Niña related rains early
in the month hampered cotton and sorghum harvests. Drier conditions
brought improvements later in the month.
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Thailand and Vietnam experienced periods of showers,
favorable for rice development.
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Central Argentina experience periodic heavy rains
causing some delays in harvesting.
FISHERIES
Cumulative Peruvian small pelagic catch for 1999 through the month of April
was approximately 2,450,421 metric tons compared to 319,705 for the same
period in 1998, which was an exceptionally low catch year because of the El
Niño. The month was marked by intermittent periods of closed and
open season with an extended authorization of the "exploratory fishing"
period by about a week. The bulk of the landings were located in the Chimbote
area, followed by the Central region, and almost no catch in the South.
The last week in April was characterized by high catches (301,000 metric
tons) as fishing effort increased in anticipation of a ban which went into
effect April 30.
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