Minimum temperatures could drop sharply until next week

Cold fronts may cause minimum temperatures to drop over parts of the country until next week.

By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Minimum temperatures may drop to freezing for short periods over parts of the country next week.

Temperatures below freezing are possible on 1 and 2 October, as well as on 5 and 6 October at Sutherland in the Northern Cape, says Johan van den Berg, independent agricultural meteorologist.

Around 5 and 6 October, as well as on 8 and 9 October, weak cold fronts could bring low minimum temperatures over the southern parts of the country – with up to -1°C possible at Ceres in the Western Cape.

Minimum temperatures of below 5°C may also occur in the first two weeks of October in places such as Paarl, Kokstad, Bethlehem and Barkly East.

The minimum temperatures further north will be fairly moderate to warm.

Frost is not expected over the Lower Orange River grape production areas, nor north of the Orange River, except in the Eastern Free State.

Maximum temperatures will be alternately warm to very warm over the western and northern parts, but in general it could be moderate to cool for most of October.

“Prolonged very warm conditions also seem unlikely for at least the next month.”

Also read: Hail of up to 10cm thick falls in the Eastern Free State

More Winter Rain?

Meanwhile, dry conditions continue over large parts of the Western Cape.

Drought conditions are experienced especially over the eastern parts of the province and the adjacent parts of the Eastern Cape.

“Conditions are particularly dry in the Garden Route, while dam levels are dropping quite rapidly. The water level of the Garden Route Dam, which mainly supplies water to the George area, is approximately 20% lower than at the same time in 2024. This dam’s level is dropping by about 2% per week. The dam is currently about 65% full.

Van den Berg says in the short term, light rain of mainly 5mm or less may occur over parts of the winter rain area around 5 to 8 October, 16 and 17 October, as well as in the last 10 days of October.

“However, this seems too little to make a difference to groundwater conditions and to replenish the dams.”

Also read: Tropical moisture could bring summer rain by the end of September

Reasonable Rainfall Over Eastern Parts of Summer Rainfall Area

A lot of rain is forecast over the far eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal in the first three weeks of October.

“However, little rain is expected for the rest of the summer rainfall area in these three weeks. Some rainfall is possible over Gauteng and Mpumalanga, as well as over the southeastern parts of Limpopo.”

Van den Berg says from the last 10 days of October, as well as during November, heavier rainfall may begin to occur over a larger area, especially over the eastern to central parts.

“It is expected that stormy conditions with hail may once again be possible during this period.”