High summer rainfall due to La Niña
This is reflected in the increased rainfall we have experienced on the South Coast during December.
As forecast, the summer rainfall for the eastern half of the country has been higher than normal.
This is due to the La Niña weather system that periodically develops at this time of the year over the Pacific Ocean near the Equator, and which causes two weather phenomena in Eastern Africa – drought in the Ethiopian area (as is the current situation) and high summer rainfall in the eastern areas of Southern Africa.
This is reflected in the increased rainfall we have experienced on the South Coast during December: 173mm of rain was recorded in Scottburgh, compared to 96,5mm in November. Of further interest is the fact that the all the dams in the Ugu District are 100% full.
The rainfall recorded in Scottburgh during December is as follows: 4th – 15mm; 7th – 4mm; 10th – 2,5mm; 15th – 21 mm (when a violent electrical storm that night caused a power outage over the town); 16th – 19mm; 17th – 6mm; 19th – 2mm; 22nd – 13mm; 23rd – 42mm; 24th – 26mm; 29th – 2,5mm; 31st – 20mm. The total rainfall for December 2021 was 173mm.
The December rainfall figures for the last five years have been: 2020 – 88mm; 2019 – 275mm; 2018 – 136mm; 2017 – 155mm; 2016 – 98mm.
TONY MASON
Scottburgh Central
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