Файл: The Climate of South Africa.pdf

Precipitation

South Africa is a sunny country, averaging 8–10 daily sunshine hours in most regions. The average annual rainfall for South Africa is about 464 mm (compared to a global average of 860 mm) but large and unpredictable variations are common. Overall, rainfall is greatest in the east and gradually decreases westward, with some semi-desert areas along the western edge of South Africa. For most of the country, rain falls mainly in the summer months with brief afternoon thunderstorms. The exception is the Western Cape and its capital city Cape Town where the climate is Mediterranean and it rains more in the wintertime. In the winter months, snow collects on the high mountains of the Cape and the Drakensberg.

Oceans

South Africa's coasts are major tourist attractions and trade locations. This makes the ocean important to South Africa and its citizens. The Indian and Atlantic oceans meet at the southwestern tip of South Africa. The warm Agulhas Current runs south along the east coast and the cold Benguela Current flows north along the western shore. As a result, there is at least a 6 °C difference in the annual temperatures of Durban (on the east) and Port Nolloth (on the west) despite being located at roughly the same latitude.

Climatic zones

Climatic zones are often referred to by the seasonal pattern of rainfall. The winter rainfall region is confined to a relatively small area in the south-west, the Western Cape area, where gentle rain falls from May to August but the summers are dry. The summer rainfall region is the largest, being most of the country north of the coastal areas and the north west arid desert. Rain fall from October to February and is often heavy, with the amount of precipitation increasing from west to east. The summer and winter rainfall region is the Eastern Cape. The arid regions are in the north-west, with the driest areas being the north-west coast. Vegetation tends to vary by climatic zone, and these also correspond to the horticultural zones.

The Highveld is the eastern plateau area of South Africa. It is typified by Johannesburg, at an elevation of 1,753 metres (5,751 ft). The former Central business district is found on the south side of the prominent ridge called the Witwatersrand and the terrain falls to the north and south. By and large the Witwatersrand marks the watershed between the Limpopo and Vaal rivers. The north and west of the city has undulating hills while the eastern parts are flatter.

The city enjoys a dry, sunny climate, with the exception of occasional late afternoon downpours in the summer months of October to April. Temperatures in Johannesburg are usually fairly mild due to the city's high altitude, with the average maximum daytime temperature in January of 26 °C (78.8 °F), dropping to an average maximum of around 16 °C (60.8 °F) in June. Winter is the sunniest time of the year, with cool days and cold nights. The temperature occasionally drops to below freezing at night, causing frost. Snow is a rare occurrence, with snowfall having been experienced in May 1956, August 1962, June 1964, September 1981, August 2006 (light), on 27 June 2007, accumulating up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in the southern suburbs, and most recently on 7 August 2012.

Regular cold fronts pass over in winter bringing very cold southerly winds but usually clear skies. The annual average rainfall is 713 millimetres (28.1 in), which is mostly concentrated in the summer months. Infrequent showers occur through the course of the winter months.

The Western Cape province has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry, sunny summer weather and mild, rainy conditions in winter.

Spring in South Africa

March is the last hot month of a year like some threshold of autumn. Average daytime temperature is about 25 to 28 °C (77-82 °F). It is still warm enough for swimming at March. The heat diminishes slightly towards the end of March and the chance of rain declines at this time of the year. The young of the different animals born in the early summer months have grown considerably and are better equipped in their evasion of predators. Normally, natural water sources are still easily accessible to animals. At April water cools down but instead hunting season begins especially on baboons (to control population and protect antelopes). Also at April temperature drops by couple of degrees and occasional fogs are occurring. April brings with it the changes of the year and is often the time of the year when the very short bushveld autumn takes place. Water begins to dry up and the temperatures are far more pleasant, but can vary between hot during the day and chilly in the evenings.

At May climatic autumn comes to RSA. This month is the turning point of the year and is the most definitive of the transformation from summer to winter. The temperature difference between day and night is more pronounced, the evenings require warmer clothing, but the days are very pleasant. The ground water begins to dry up now and game starts concentrating closer to the places where water can still be found. This results in the predators moving to the favorite water points in hopeful anticipation of a successful ambush. The deciduous trees start to lose their leaves and the bush has a more open feel to it. The visibility is also starting to get better and one can look further into the bush from the road. This month bring showers, heavy clouds and yellow on branches of trees. It is time to harvest corn, cotton and sugarcane. Temperature in Cape Town barely reaches 19 °C (66 °F) while Johannesburg and Pretoria are warmer with 22 °C (72 °F).

Summer in South Africa

Summer months in RSA are time of winter. Weather is quite unpredictable and strongly depends on location. For instance in Cape Town average temperature is about 17 °C (63 °F) while in Durban is around 21 °C (72 °F) while they are almost on the same latitude. East coasts of RSA are warmer than west by average of 6 °C (≈11 °F) due to influence of warm Agulhas current and cold Benguela current respectively. There is some chance to see snow in towns and there will be plenty of it in mountains.

In many respects July is similar to June, the only difference is that it is more dry, and animals such as the Rhinoceros and the Buffalo make there daily journeys to the rivers to drink. Elephants only leave the river bed in the evening when it is cooler, spending the day feeding on the remaining lush vegetation. Towards the end of the month it slightly starts to warm up during the day, though the evenings are still cold.

August is the driest of the months, the temperature rises during the day and although the nights are cool the days are very pleasant. There are many who rate August as the best time of the year to come to see the animals. The grass is now a gold to brown color and tends to thin out for a big part.

Visit to the country at the middle of summer is unique opportunity to see whales. At this time they are approaching shore close enough for spectating with bare eyes. Unique experience attracts lots of tourists. August is the last month of winter and it is good to visit the blooming Kalahari Desert.

Autumn in South Africa

Spring weather comes to RSA with the very first days of September. Precipitation decreases and temperature rises. In coldest Cape Town air warms up to 18 °C (64 °F), in Durban to 20 °C (68 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F) in Pretoria. Both Atlantic and Indian oceans are too cold for swimming at this time. October is even warmer. Average temperatures gain several positive degrees and famous jacarandas of Pretoria start to bloom. At November average temperature gain couple more degrees while amount of precipitation decreases. It is wonderful time to travel around the Republic of South Africa.

September is a month of great contrasts, the bush is still dry, but many of the trees begin to blossom; the brilliant red of the Weeping Boer-bean, the yellow of the Knobthorn trees or the combination of white and yellow on the Transvaal Gardenia. All of these shower a brilliance over what is now a very dry month for the bush. The last of the winter chills are spent and the days can become hot again. Viewing continues to be exceptional with the lack of water and sparse ground cover.

The days now become warmer and the chances of afternoon showers greater. The general appearance of the bush is now green and the grass starts to coppice, this will attract the grazers like Zebra, Wildebeest and Buffalo. Plenty of migrating birds will arrive to take advantage of the summer conditions, some of them would have come from further north in Africa and some would fly all the way from Europe. The end of the month would see the arrival of the first Impala lambs.

Amount of precipitation distributed unevenly across territory of the country. In north-western regions there are about 200 mm (7.8”) of annual precipitation. Western regions receive 900 mm (35.4”) and central 400 mm (15.7”).