A cold front could bring freezing temperatures to parts of the country from 15 to 17 October, with a chance of light snow in high-lying areas in the southern parts of the country.
By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
A cold front forecast to move across South Africa from 15 to 17 October could bring a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly over the southern interior.
“There is also a possibility of light snow over the Western and Eastern Cape mountains, especially around 16 October,” says independent agricultural meteorologist Johan van den Berg. “The chance of it spreading to the Drakensberg is slim.”
Low Minimum Temperatures Expected
The front could push minimum temperatures below freezing in some areas, including Sutherland. Minimum temperatures below 5°C could occur in parts of the Western Cape such as Ceres, De Doorns, Robertson, Barrydale, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Caledon, and even the Langkloof around Avontuur, Van den Berg says.
In the southern Free State, towns such as Zastron and Smithfield may also experience temperatures below 5°C, as could parts of the northern Eastern Cape, including Barkly East and Aliwal North.
Minimum temperatures between 5°C and 10°C are expected in the eastern Free State, the southern Northern Cape (as far as Prieska and Upington), the southern parts of Mpumalanga (including Amersfoort and Ermelo), and in southern KwaZulu-Natal (in towns such as Kokstad and Underberg).
“Temperature drops may still occur for short periods in November, but these will likely be confined further south and have a smaller impact elsewhere,” Van den Berg says.
Also read: Above-average rain expected from November to January
Ideal Temperatures for Germination
With the summer planting season approaching, Van den Berg advises farmers to remember that temperatures recorded at weather stations are measured 1,2m to 2m above the ground, and soil-level temperatures can be up to 5°C lower.
For optimal summer crop germination, minimum temperatures measured at a weather station should be between 12°C and 15°C, and preferably above 15°C, he says.
Also read: Summer rainfall: Wetter days ahead for the Eastern Cape
