El Nino ‘set to return’

The prospects of an El Nino weather pattern forming in the next few months has risen significantly, the South African Weather Service says.

El Nino usually heralds dry weather in southern Africa. Last year it was seen as the main cause of a drought that hit crop production, fuelling inflation and crimping economic growth.

“The public is advised to keep track of its developments,” the service said about the El Nino in a monthly forecast, which looks five months ahead.

South Africa has partly recovered from the previous El Nino. Farmers are expected to harvest 84% more maize this season as yields have been boosted by increased rains.

The government’s Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) is seen pegging the harvest at 14.35 million tons, against 7.78 million tons last year.

The last El Nino faded in May of 2016 and, if it were to return as early as July as some forecasts suggest, it would be the first time it reformed so quickly since the mid-1960s.