La Niña forecast raises hopes for SA's farmers

Increased rainfall will be a boost for agriculture and food security. By Ed Stoddard

- Ed Stoddard

South Africa's northeastern regions are expected to have a wet spring and early summer amid cautious optimism that the La Niña weather pattern will return soon, a state of affairs that should herald decent summer rains for much of the country.

Temperatures are expected to remain above average across SA into January, a reflection of global trends. And although La Niña is regarded as having a cooling effect, global temperatures are expected to remain in record territory - a consequence of human-induced climate change.

"Most of the areas that receive significant rainfall in the coming seasons of spring and early summer are situated in the northeast of the country. These areas are expected to receive ... above-normal rainfall during the forecast period up until early summer," the South African Weather Service said in its monthly Seasonal Climate Watch report, which looks five months ahead.

If this forecast materialises, it will be good news for farmers, including maize producers in the eastern part of South Africa's grain belt in Mpumalanga.