Onset of rain uncertain as La Nina delayed to next year

It's still too early to tell whether the weather will come to the rescue of a water-thirsty Gauteng, because a La Nina phenomenon, which normally brings above-average rains, may only kick in next year, meteorologists say.

- Marizka Coetzer

SA Weather Service lead scientist Dr Christien Engelbrecht said the rainfall outlook for the interior parts from spring to mid-summer was not that favourable this year.

"For the remainder of spring and summer the El Nino was in a neutral phase and was predicted to move into a La Nina event, where one can typically expect above-normal rainfall.

"However, in this coming summer season the La Nina was predicted to be weak until January-February.

"This means the rainfall predictions are a little uncertain," she said.

Engelbrecht said above-average temperatures were predicted for the remainder of the spring and mid-summer period.

"In some areas in the eastern and western parts there are very low probabilities of above-normal rain indicated for mid-summer.

"Spring is also not that favourable for rainfall currently," she said.