Pinar Del Rio Weather

[El Presidente]

So far the growing season has started well in Pinar Del Rio. Mid term forecasts show that the weather calamities of last year may not reappear.  Fingers crossed because the industry needs a cracker year. Another poor year would be a disaster. 

For the weather junkies, I keep an eye on this site for Pinar Weather at this time of year. I like it as it is provides a forecast (30 days +) as well as historical data. 

http://www.accuweather.com/en/cu/pinar-del-rio/125412/december-weather/125412?monyr=12/1/2016&view=table

One thing of note is the higher than average summer temps being experienced (last year was the same).  

I am a meteriological  moron...but warmer temps mean warmer waters which mean increased precipitation.  Let's hope that doesn't occur over the next 3-4 weeks. 

If you are heading through Pinar during this period, post us an update on how it is going. 

 

 

 

 

[Fugu]

At least no current SST anomalies. Not yet another ENSO year to be expected.

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_update/sstanim.shtml

 

[TomF]

I was in Havana and San Antonio this past week and the temps were in the mid-high 80's F (26-30C), very humid, light rain Friday and scattered showers on Saturday. Chart linked above looks about the same...

Translation? Hot as hell...

[clutch5150]

We'll be there again this March. Cannot wait to see growing season this time around!

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, clutch5150 said:

We'll be there again this March. Cannot wait to see growing season this time around!

Unfortunately for cigar tobacco, it is all wrapped up (growing and harvesting) by late Jan/early Feb. 

[clutch5150]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Unfortunately for cigar tobacco, it is all wrapped up (growing and harvesting) by late Jan/early Feb. 

Damn, I will miss it again!

[Ole]

Will be in the area after Christmas and report back.

[Nino]

On 12.12.2016 at 6:22 PM, clutch5150 said:

We'll be there again this March. Cannot wait to see growing season this time around!

 

On 12.12.2016 at 8:29 PM, El Presidente said:

Unfortunately for cigar tobacco, it is all wrapped up (growing and harvesting) by late Jan/early Feb. 

Some growers like Hector Luis have been late to plant this year, it was only early December that Hector planted, so the growing season might extend to late February/early-mid March.

All due to changing climate.

[JohnnyO]

Some of the plants they are having to pull now are coming up with black roots due to the flooding. Hope this is an isolated incident. I also was in a conversation about the size of the leaves. Many were recalling that 30 years ago or more 5 ft leaves were common and that now the leaves are much smaller on a consistent basis. Also that on those leaves there was a syrupy carmelized resin that got on the workers clothes when they pulled/cut the plants. The wives used to complain that they couldn't get the resin off the clothes when washing them. Now that resin doesn't exist. Many commented that the resins presence has to do a lot with the flavors of the leaf that are now gone. Most likely due to over farming and that the ground probably needs a big time rest. I would not say this is true on all of the farms, just what I saw in general. John 

[Ole]

[Ole]

Perfect conditions here in San Juan y Martinez as of this photo taken December 27th:

• No rain after planting (external water distribution in the picture above)
• No single day with temperatures exceeding 22 degrees at night

 

Still there are plants not in the ground yet so all reason to follow the weather forecast every day for many weeks! Many of you know where this is - the plantation providing flavours making your palate go crazy.. 

[Ole]

The above area was planted today.

Rain showers were expected today as well as two days ago, but ended up with desireable levels.

So far optimal conditions for December plantings.

[dgixxer252525]

I will be in the area mid January and will report my observations...

[Corylax18]

On 1/6/2017 at 4:01 PM, Ole said:

The above area was planted today.

Rain showers were expected today as well as two days ago, but ended up with desireable levels.

So far optimal conditions for December plantings.

Thanks for the Update! It was nice and dry for the majority of our trip in late November, they had buildings full of seedlings, but hadn't planted them at that point. They were expecting the rains to linger longer than they did. Good to hear that the conditions are holding up. They could really, really use a bumper crop down there this year.

[Nino]

Cuban friends have reported that some tobacco areas west ( Artemisa ) and south ( San Antonio de los Baños ) of Havana are already harvesting now and so far the quality seems to be excellent.

Hector Luis sent me a message yesterday and he is also very happy so far with the weather conditions. If the present conditions prevail the harvest looks to be very good.

Now, let's hope they also get a fair price paid by the gvt. for the harvest ....

 

[Sean3]

I must be getting old, I got all excited when I seen the weather website link.  Dammit!

[2skinny]

I know nothing of growing cigar tobacco, but I do know a thing or two about burley tobacco. Tobacco doesn't need much rain at all, it just needs it at the right times. I can only imagine some of the challenges they face in such a humid area. 

[NSXCIGAR]

Excellent news indeed. An entire season with ideal conditions and record hectares planted is just what the doctor ordered, especially with the terrific momentum in quality and blends that's built over the last few years. If the weather cooperates for another month 2018-2019 production has the potential to possibly be the best in the last 20 years, approaching the level of the old days if care is taken. 

[PigFish]

This is Tabacuba, we need some calamity to blame, quality, shortages, prices, late arrivals, etc... Just give them some time!!! -LOL

-Piggy

[Trigga]

Thanks for the updates all!  Very pleased to hear that things are going as best as one could hope for!

[TomF]

9 hours ago, PigFish said:

This is Tabacuba, we need some calamity to blame, quality, shortages, prices, late arrivals, etc... Just give them some time!!! -LOL

-Piggy

And Piggy weighs in to provide a little ray of sunshine.

[avaldes]

Let's just hope that this year's strain of tobacco tastes like Corojo of old...(wishful thinking I know)

[NSXCIGAR]

24 minutes ago, avaldes said:

Let's just hope that this year's strain of tobacco tastes like Corojo of old...(wishful thinking I know)

Indeed, I just don't think the new strains have it in them. The natural richness of the old Corojo is obviously hard--if not impossible--to duplicate. I do think, however, that a good crop goes a long way toward refining strains and blends. Cubatabaco has been wrestling with the post-Corojo era for nearly 20 years, and as I've mentioned elsewhere, the quality curve has tended to move upward over that time. Clearly, there have been some setbacks, but in general, since 2000, it's been two steps forward, one step back. 

I think it may take a long time to work out the kinks with new strains. Who knows how long it took to work out the kinks when Corojo first was generally adopted 70+ years ago? So while I don't think the new strains will ever really exhibit a lot of the characteristics of the old Corojo they can be further refined and developed into very pleasing results. In the scheme of things, 15-20 years may not be that much time to work out these kinks, but surely great crops help expedite things. For example, a bad season might eliminate entire fields or a certain farm's crop entirely, meaning the characteristics of that tobacco are never known, let alone available for blends. If you're attempting different strains in different areas in different seasons it can take many years before you even begin to figure out what works well and where. Great seasons give you that information much more quickly.

[TomF]

18 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Indeed, I just don't think the new strains have it in them. The natural richness of the old Corojo is obviously hard--if not impossible--to duplicate. I do think, however, that a good crop goes a long way toward refining strains and blends. Cubatabaco has been wrestling with the post-Corojo era for nearly 20 years, and as I've mentioned elsewhere, the quality curve has tended to move upward over that time. Clearly, there have been some setbacks, but in general, since 2000, it's been two steps forward, one step back. 

I think it may take a long time to work out the kinks with new strains. Who knows how long it took to work out the kinks when Corojo first was generally adopted 70+ years ago? So while I don't think the new strains will ever really exhibit a lot of the characteristics of the old Corojo they can be further refined and developed into very pleasing results. In the scheme of things, 15-20 years may not be that much time to work out these kinks, but surely great crops help expedite things. For example, a bad season might eliminate entire fields or a certain farm's crop entirely, meaning the characteristics of that tobacco are never known, let alone available for blends. If you're attempting different strains in different areas in different seasons it can take many years before you even begin to figure out what works well and where. Great seasons give you that information much more quickly.

Why can't they go back to Corojo if the newer strains are not as good? They must have kept a seed bank when they bred the new strains, right?!?

[NSXCIGAR]

Just now, TomF said:

Why can't they go back to Corojo if the newer strains are not as good? They must have kept a seed bank when they bred the new strains, right?!?

I assume the risks of the blue mold are too great. It became an unmanageable problem in the mid-90s, hence the transition to other strains in the late 90s. I'm no plant disease epidemiologist, but I'm assuming there's a reason they've continued to refrain from trying it again. I think they've just committed to refining the strains that are far more resistant to these diseases.

Who knows--perhaps when farms are returned to private control and farmers can cultivate their own seeds and experiment as they see fit, Corojo may return in a limited way.