Whenever the topic of the weather is discussed, one always hears how we are living in such “unusual weather”.
But how true is this? Is our weather truly different from the norm?
Whenever the topic of the weather is discussed, one always hears how we are living in such “unusual weather”.
But how true is this? Is our weather truly different from the norm?
Taking a look at recent developments on the weather front – if you’ll excuse the pun – we had a period of drought from early September up until mid October. A sprinkling of spring showers has followed since then.
The period 31 August up to 4 October recorded absolutely no rain whatsoever. This was followed by 153mm from 16 October to 1 November.
Is this typical of the Grahamstown area?
Yes, absolutely! An examination of records stretching back over 22 years shows that drought, or alternatively extremely wet periods, can occur during almost any month of the year.
November is traditionally a wet month with 1996 setting a pre-2012 record of 341mm.
Other extremely wet months were in April 1997 (178mm), March 2000 (231mm), November 2001 (195mm), August 2002 (226mm), February 2203 (166mm), December 2204 (154mm), November 2005 (156mm), August 2006 (252mm), October 2006 (165mm), March 2207 (161mm), October 2010 (205mm), July 2011 (186mm), November 2011 (187mm), February 2012 (176mm).
Then of course there is the all-time record of 409mm in October 2012.
Dry months can also occur at apparently random intervals, with this September being the only month where zero rain was recorded in 22 years. September 2011 was a close second driest month with 3.5mm of rain.
However, the ogre of ‘unusual weather’ reared itself again in November 1994, usually a wet month, with only 11mm being recorded.
What these figures do show is that the weather in this part of the Eastern Cape is very variable and unpredictable.
Whenever a ‘cut off low pressure system’ is reported by the SA Weather Bureau, one can expect heavy rains, and last weekend was no exception with high winds and repeated heavy rain showers.
A consequence of this was that Howiesons’ Poort Dam, from where the Waainek water treatment works receives its water, was filled to capacity.
Our weather is very much one of frequent feast and famine, hence the quote “If you’re bored with the weather in Grahamstown… wait 10 minutes!” is apt.
On the bright side, one benefit of all this rain is the disappearance of clouds of smoke from our city’s atmosphere, caused by the all-too-frequent fires of the past season.
The Makana area had a particularly bad fire season this year with five major fires burning for several days each.
Three in Howiesons’ Poort, another along the Highlands road that burnt for many days, and a more recent big blaze on the eastern side of town.
Amazingly Mountain Drive, adjacent to Grey Dam and opposite the Monument, did not burn this year. Except for a small controlled burn along the power line.
This is the first time in about 15 years that it has escaped this fate.
Our fires tend to follow our weather, ‘unusual’ or not.
Next month we may expect a deluge of continuous rain, or virtually none at all! Who can tell?
However, spare a thought for those poor inhabitants of the Philippines with their recent Category 5 typhoon (hurricane), dropping over 500mm of rain in a few hours and up to 300kph wind gusts.
Having never experienced such a tempest, it is inconceivable what it must be like to have buildings, cars, people and everything else simply blown away and destroyed.
That would be truly unusual weather!
Enviro-News contacts:
Nikki Köhly: n.kohly@ru.ac.za, 046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 | Ruth Krueger: g10k2679@campus.ru.ac.za, 076 295 8045 | Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick: p.machanick@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8635 | Strato Copteros: strato@iafrica.com, 082 785 6403
