There is no good news for farmers, businesses and residents in the Eastern Cape. The South African Weather Service’ office in Port Elizabeth on Monday said that the province received record low spring rainfall.
“This is in addition to record high average maximum temperatures, further contributing to the water woes of the region,” said SA Weather Service Eastern Cape spokesperson, Garth Sampson.
“The region as a whole received on average less than 30 % of the average rainfall for the spring months (September to November), with Graaf Reinet the lowest, only receiving 12% of its norm.”
Samson said that it has been the driest spring (September to November) in:
- Molteno 20 mm
- Elliot 72 mm
- Cradock 14 mm
- Fort Beaufort 52 mm
- Dohne 60 mm
- Middleton 21 mm
- Grahamstown 36 mm
- East London 109 mm
*PERIOD 1994-2019*
Sampson said that it was the second driest spring in:
- Jamestown 9 mm
- Graaf Reinet 9 mm
- Port Elizabeth 86 mm
It was also the driest November in:
- Cradock 1 mm
- Fort Beaufort 6 mm
- Middlteon 1 mm
- Grahamstown 5 mm
“The seasonal forecast for the summer months looks dismal to say the least with below average rainfall forecast for most of the Eastern Cape Region,” he described.
“Thus, water should be used sparingly, as the NMBMM supply dams have dipped to 35%.
“The average maximum temperatures were on average 2 to 3 degrees above the norm, making it the hottest spring (September to November) on record over the Eastern Cape.”
The following stations recorded the highest average spring maximum temperatures:
- Queenstown 27.4C
- Molteno 24.1 C
- Elliot 24.2C
- Jamestown 25.5 C
- Mthatha 27.0C
- Graaf Reinet 29.0C
- Fort Beaufort 28.7C
- Bisho 25.3C
- Dohne 25.3C
- Patensie 26.4C
- Middleton 27.4C
- Addo 28.8C
- Port Elizabeth 22.9C
- Grahamstown 23.8C
- East London 23.7C
The average maximum temperature for November was the hottest in
- Fort Beaufort 30.8C
- Bisho 26.0C
- Addo 29.7C
*PERIOD 1994-2019*