Green summer beckons as high rainfall forecast

WE are going summer.

The eastern half of the Eastern Cape can expect higher than normal rainfall this summer.

This was said by SA Weather Services forecaster Garth Sampson yesterday as rain swept through the entire province, dropping some snow on the southern Drakensberg.

More heavy rain was expected last night right up to Kokstad but would clear today, Sampson said.

His comments came after longterm forecasts had earlier in the year predicted low summer rain.

This has now been revised. Nelson Mandela Bay and the western half of the province will get less rain, as predicted, but the eastern half is in for above-normal rain.

Normal rainfall will resume in to have a green late January. This means that rain tanks should be full all summer, especially through the festive season when visitors arrive.

Sampson said the good summer rainfall area would start from Grahamstown and Port Alfred and extend eastwards.

Yesterday squalls were hitting East London by 2pm.

By 8am yesterday, according to the SAWS measurements provided by Sampson, Buffalo City Metro had received a good 39mm dousing, and Fort Beaufort, where dams have been very low, got 32mm. Bhisho received 17mm.

Mthatha, however, had not yet been hit by the cold front, and recorded only 5.4mm.

This was expected to improve overnight. Port Alfred received 61mm, while 3rd Avenue in Port Elizabeth got the most rain in the province, with 65mm. —