Yet another rain-bearing system will result in widespread precipitation over much of the summer rainfall region during the next few days, especially over the maize-production areas.
Current forecasts favour the western production areas to receive significant falls while totals over the eastern production areas are expected to be somewhat lower. Given expected cloudy and mild to cool conditions over the central to eastern interior during the weekend, temperatures will on average be somewhat lower than normal over the eastern parts of the country, with maximum temperatures being particularly suppressed.
The following is a summary of weather conditions during the next few days:
• General:
o Most of the country will receive normal to above-normal rain during the next few days - except for the winter rainfall region and the Limpopo River Valley where rainfall is expected to be below normal for this time of the year.
o The eastern half of the country should be somewhat cooler than the norm for this time of the year while the western parts should experience above-normal temperatures.
o Strong southeasterlies are possible throughout over the southwestern parts, especially on Thursday (27th) and Friday (28th).
• Rainfall:
o Isolated to scattered thundershowers will occur over the western to central parts of the country on Wednesday (26th) and Thursday (27th), becoming more widespread over the eastern parts of the eastern Cape and KZN on Thursday (27th).
o Light showers are possible along the Garden Route on Thursday (27th).
o Scattered thundershowers will spread onto the Eastern Highveld and finally through to southern Limpopo on Friday (28th) while rain and showers will occur over the KZN coast and adjacent interior.
o Scattered to widespread thundershowers are possible over most of the Northern Cape, Free State and southern North West on Saturday (29th), spreading into Mpumalanga, Gauteng and southern Limpopo on Sunday (1st). Significant falls are indicated over northwestern Free State and southern to central North West according to current outlooks.
o Scattered thundershowers will continue over the eastern and northeastern parts on Monday (2nd).
o Rain and showers are possible along the Garden Route on Sunday (1st) and Monday (2nd), with mostly light falls expected.
o Most of the country should be dry by Tuesday (3rd) except for the far-northeast where isolated to scattered thundershowers are still possible according to current forecasts.
• Temperatures:
o Temperatures will fall significantly over the eastern to central parts from Friday as cooler, moist air invades the country from the east, supporting the widespread rainfall event during the weekend. Abundant cloud cover will have a particularly negative effect on maximum temperatures. It should be warmer again by next week.
o It will be hot along the West Coast and western interior on Friday (28th) and Saturday (29th) as well as possibly on Tuesday (3rd) according to current outlooks.
Overview of expected conditions over South Africa during the next few days
A strong surface high-pressure system ridging around the country (Thursday 27th - Sunday 1st) will result in an influx of moisture into the country while upper-air support in the form of 2 upper-air troughs moving SW-NE during the weekend and again by Monday will cause scattered to widespread rain and thundershowers over most of summer rainfall region.
Conditions in main agricultural production regions (26 February - 3 March)
Maize production region:
After starting off relatively warm and dry, cloudy, cool and windy conditions with scattered thundershowers will set in over the eastern areas by Friday (28th). Saturday (29th) and Sunday (1st) will see mostly cloudy conditions with showers or thundershowers over much of the region. Significant daily totals are possible over the western parts on Saturday. Thundershowers will continue on Monday (2nd), especially in the east, after which it should clear by Tuesday with some residual thundershowers to the east. Cloudy and cool conditions will be prevalent from Friday (28th) until Sunday (1st) over much of the area. Maximum temperatures over the western maize-production region will range between 18 and 30 °C, with lower maximum temperatures featuring especially during the weekend and early next week. Minimums will be in the order of 13 - 17°C. Maximum temperatures over the eastern maize-production region will range between 17 and 31°C (lower temperatures during the weekend) while minimums will be in the order of 9 - 14°C.
Cape Wine Lands and Ruens:
South easterlies to easterlies will prevail on most days. Light showers will be associated with this on-shore flow over the Garden Route on Thursday (28th) and Sunday - Monday (1st & 2nd). Hot conditions will develop over the West Coast and into the Swartland on Friday and Saturday (28th / 29th) and again by Tuesday (3rd) when hot conditions are possible over most of the interior of this region.
