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Weather patterns in 2016 tipped the scales over most parts of Eastern Cape


The year 2016 tipped the scales with the hottest maximum daytime temperatures for the past 20 years over most of the Eastern Cape.

In most cases, it was by a mere 0.1 of a degree.

Night-time minimum temperatures were normal over most of the region.

Garth Sampson from the PE Branch of the SA Weather Service reports that the higher than normal maximum temperatures can mainly be attributed to a warmer than normal winter and the below average rainfall over most of the region in 2016.

The AVERAGE ANNUAL maximum temperature records for the period 1996 to 2016 were as follows

Port Elizabeth

2016                       23.3 C (Highest)

Record                  23.2 C (1999)


Queenstown

2016                       24.8 C (Highest)

Record                  24.7 C (1999)


Mthatha

2016                       25.8 C (SECOND Highest)

Record                  25.9 C (1999)


Cradock

2016                       27.0 C (Highest)

Record                  26.4 C (2015)


George

2016                       22.0 C (Slightly above average of 21.8 C)

Record                  22.6 C (1999)

East London

2016                       24.1  C (SECOND Highest)

Record                  24.3 C (1999)


RAINFALL

Rainfall was varied over the region with only Port Elizabeth and George showing an exceptionally low figure


Port Elizabeth

2016                       447 mm (THIRD Lowest since 1996)

Record                  401 mm (1998)

Average               620 mm

2015                       707 mm

Almost 300mm  lower than 2015 and almost 200 mm lower than the norm

Queenstown

2016                       487 mm

Average               391 mm

2015                       425 mm


Mthatha

2016                       611 mm

Average               656 mm

2015                       518 mm


Cradock

2016                       344 mm

Average               374 mm

2015                       289 mm

George

2016                       417 mm (SECOND lowest since 1996)

Record                  374 mm (2009)

Average               675 mm

2015                       782 mm


East London

2016                       714 mm

Average               846 mm

2015                       867 mm



NMMM CATCHMENT RAINFALL

After a bumper 2015 rainfall year, 2016 was well below the norm over out catchment area

Joubertina

2016                       298 mm (FOURTH Lowest)

Average               404 mm

2015                       629 mm

Record                  249 mm (2008)

Patensie

2016                       379 mm

Average               460 mm

2015                       904 mm

Record                  306 mm (2005)

Kareedouw

2016                       467 mm

Average               640 mm

2015                       944 mm

Record                  353 mm (2003)