SA Weather Service extends dryer and warmer-than-usual forecast to November

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While El Niño has faded, most of South Africa is still expected to remain relatively dry and warm into spring and early summer. 

“The South African Weather Service (Saws) multimodel rainfall forecast indicates mostly below-normal rainfall over most of the country during Jul-Aug-Sep (JAS), Aug-Sep-Oct (ASO) and Sep-Oct-Nov (SON),” the weather service said in its latest Seasonal Climate Watch, which looks five months ahead.

“Minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be mostly above-normal countrywide for the forecast period.”

If this forecast is realised, it could bode ill for the planting season for key summer crops such as maize. The staple white maize crop is seen 25% lower this year because of a searing drought linked to the El Niño weather pattern which could bring domestic food inflation, which has been slowing, back on the boil.

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