Summer rains, is this unusual or just a reset.

[Zapiture]

Widespread reports of good rains in many areas of Southern Africa makes it seem almost abnormal.

Yet as a young lad, lets call it 40 years ago, I recall many summers where our swimming pool became one with the flooded back yard. That may not seem like much rain but I grew up on the KZN coast where there is no flat lands.

This new system on the way should start impacting us late next week. This is the second in as many weeks that will bring a fresh deluge stretching deep into SA:



So my question is is this normal after a longish dry period, what is the worst you guys with some miles on the clock can remember. If you have visuals please post.

[HeinrichC]

It is definitely not normal but they managed to track down the culprits. Apparently two Mexican guys are to blame, they go by the names of El Niño and La Niña.

[Zapiture]

It is definitely not normal but they managed to track down the culprits. Apparently two Mexican guys are to blame, they go by the names of El Niño and La Niña.

This guy! Figures:

[grips]

Yes abnormal. I have up to date rainfall figures for the past 10 years.
We are currently on 490mm since September. The normal rain season is February, March.

From old recordings we are about on par with the 1988 rainfall. Last time river's like the Gamgara were in flood.
Kuruman river also flowing for the first time in many years.

Going to do a river trip tomorrow. Plan to drive along the Gamgara then hop over to the Kuruman River later.

[Zapiture]

Yes abnormal. I have up to date rainfall figures for the past 10 years.
We are currently on 490mm since September. The normal rain season is February, March.

From old recordings we are about on par with the 1988 rainfall. Last time river's like the Gamgara were in flood.
Kuruman river also flowing for the first time in many years.

Going to do a river trip tomorrow. Plan to drive along the Gamgara then hop over to the Kuruman River later.

Lucky fish. Please, please post photos!!

[Zapiture]

I’ve dug up some weather figures of the 80’s. This would suggest that we had much more rain then?

[jaconell]

Also growing up in KZN, it would Keeza for days on end. Keeza has all but disappeared.
It would also seem that we have more violent rain storms in Ballito compared to 10 years back or so. Also, heavy rains these days often accompanied by violent windstorms.

[Frontiersman]

It is definitely not normal but they managed to track down the culprits. Apparently two Mexican guys are to blame, they go by the names of El Niño and La Niña.

La Niña is a girl.

[JJJ]

A Mexican couple then? Arguing.

[Peter1949]

I have kept rainfall figure in my garden in Pinetown for many years now.
Presently our rainfall is within the normal range but much higher than average for this time of year in the last few years.
Nowhere near the maximums we have experienced in the earlier years.

[zx14]

And the Vaal dam is over 70%.

[Bex]

We have had about 40mm from start of the year, that is about our yearly average.
But you guys further east could spare some , send it our way, we could use a bit more.

[dirtshark]

Everything goes in cycles - forty years of offshore fishing have told me this.......with some climate change thrown in.
By my reckoning the rain we have had here on east coast this season is pretty normal

[Mielie 84]

Hoedspruit is standing on 450mm average for the summer so far. 100mm more than total rain for last 3 seasons, and we are only entering our main rain months now. Most rain on record for October, 160mm.

So yes, very wet!

[Tweeling]

Normal, I would say

[Bex]

I would say it is a normal high rain fall year.

How long untill this is blamed on climate change? Retorical question.

[Andrew Leigh]

And the Vaal dam is over 70%.

Was there yesterday, very pleasing. We went down early in November to clean our spot and do the garden etc. for December vacation. It was 31% then, a real blessing to see that amount of water so quickly. Just in time for the new boat .

[Zapiture]

I have kept rainfall figure in my garden in Pinetown for many years now.
Presently our rainfall is within the normal range but much higher than average for this time of year in the last few years.
Nowhere near the maximums we have experienced in the earlier years.

Something like this right?

[Craigm]

The river below the barrage has been pumping for a few weeks too. Flow rate so high that it's been largely unfishable. Excellent for the river, it needed a good flush!

[Bex]