Lower rainfall, higher temps forecast for winter

Much of South Africa is set to experience lower-than-normal rainfall and higher-than-normal temperatures for winter, according to the SA Weather Service’s (SAWS) latest seasonal climate watch forecast.

With El Nino in a neutral state and expected to weaken further, predictions are mixed as to whether or not it will weaken towards a La Nina state for summer.

SAWS advises monitoring the El Nino Southern Oscillation (Enso) system, ‘as significant changes in the system may occur after the winter period due to increased prediction skill’.

“We are now in the middle of the winter season, and as such weather systems occurring during this season are notoriously difficult to predict at a seasonal timescale,” said the SAWS.

“These systems typically have the largest impact along the southern to southeastern coastal areas. It is therefore strongly recommended that the short-term weather forecasts of the SAWS are routinely consulted in addition to the seasonal forecast.”

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