The South African Weather Services (SAWS) has encouraged farmers and Municipalities to implement necessary precautions, ahead of a wet and dry Summer season.
Summer is expected to be hotter than normal, with above normal rainfall, in the North West, parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of the Eastern Cape.
While this could benefit reservoirs, it could also bring floods and related diseases.
But other parts of the country, will remain relatively drier, such as Mpumalanga and Limpopo, whose predictions are below average rainfall patterns, which could spell drought.
SAWS said soil and water conservation measures must be implemented and proper harvesting and storage techniques, as well as proper drainage systems.
Tammy Fray, Communications Officer at the South African Weather Service, said in a statement, “without proactive measures in anticipation of impending above average rainfall, we are likely to see drownings, injuries and hypothermia.”
In addition to the rainfall, the seasonal forecast anticipates above normal minimum and maximum temperatures across the country, with exceptions in the southwestern coastal areas which will be below normal. The latter impacts cities mostly in the Northen Cape and parts of the Western Cape, while the increased minimum and maximum temperatures will be the status quo throughout the rest of the country.
“This means that measures must be taken to mitigate the risk of heat-related illnesses which cause harm to human health and accelerate the growth of foodborne pathogens” said Fray.