No relief in drought expected

POLOKWANE – As the drought drags on, the expected arrival of the La Niña weather system will not bring relief for drought stricken areas such as Limpopo, says the South African Weather Services (SAWS).
After a meeting held recently, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNW), Phineas Legodi, said by 15 August, capacity in the 26 major dams in the province stood at 51, 8% whereas last year this time, levels were at 78,5%.
Legodi went on to say plans have been formulated to expand the province’s water supply through different projects, which include raising the walls of the Tzaneen Dam by three metres, transferring water from Flag Boshielo and De Hoop Dams to drought stricken areas as well as transferring water from the Crocodile River through a 160 km pipeline to Lephalale.
The drought has crippled South Africa’s agricultural sector and caused devastating effects around the country. The emergence of a weak La Niña event is giving hope for better rainfall and climate ­conditions in the months ahead which could result in a boost for the economy and the agricultural sector as well.
According to  the General Manager of Operations at SAWS, Mnikeli Ndabambi, recovery from the 2015/2016 drought will potentially be stalled by above normal temperature trends.
“A well established la Niña is highly unlikely,” he said. According to SAWS, all indications point to a weak La Niña.
“We do not predict rainfall activities during spring but there is the prospect of above normal rainfall towards early summer with water shortages occurring in some provinces.” He says as dam levels dropped during August, proper management of water is important because it is likely that there will be above normal temperatures over the summer period. “It looks like our summers are going to be warm again and there is still going to be a water problem,” he said.
La Niña is the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific which influences atmospheric circulation and consequently rainfall and temperatures.
Hanelee Doubell, part of the forecasting team at SAWS says they are unable to forecast so far in advance but what they can say is that it will be a dry and hot spring in the entire country, of which the effects will be felt.
raeesak@nmgroup.co.za