Coastal Zululand could be spared dry El Nino summer

While the El Nino Southern Oscillation (Enso) is in full effect – and a hot, dry summer with below-average rainfall is expected across the country – the eastern regions could be spared.

According to a seasonal forecast issued by SA Weather Service (SAWS) meteorologist Cobus Botha, while Enso’s typical impact for southern Africa is in favour of drier and warmer summer conditions, current global forecasts indicate some uncertainty for the typical drier conditions, particularly over the eastern parts of the country.

The SAWS multi-model rainfall forecast indicates mostly below-normal rainfall over most of the country from January to May, with the exception of the central and eastern coastal areas, indicating higher likelihood of above-average rainfall.

However, there is uncertainty over the exact summer rainfall outcomes over the summer rainfall regions.

Minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above-average this summer.

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