#SAWeather and #Disaster #Observations South Africa : 19 February 2015 04h00 SAST - MSBWX

SAWS SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS: 
 
WARNINGS: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the central and eastern interior of the Northern Cape, and the Central Karoo of the Western Cape.  

WATCHES: ------Nil

SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORIES: Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures are expected over the North - West and the Gauteng Province.

MSBWX National Severe Weather Observations: The drought and very hot weather is taking it's toll on grain production in areas of the Free State and North West where plants are dying due to the lack of rain. The intense drought in these areas could lead to a shortage of maize this season. Financially many farmers will experience a loss as they do not receive any compensation from government for grain losses. Drought relief aid unfortunately covers only certain aspects of farming. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the effected farmers. We the public should note that farmers put food on our table and if there is a drought it is not only the farmers that feel the effect but also the general public who will pay much more for food in their basket.

Images: Vrystaat Landbou via Twitter and as indicated (Click on images for larger view.)

MSBWX General Weather Observations:  Cool, warm to very hot conditions expected today over parts of SA. Thunderstorms and rain showers can be expected in parts of Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal.  Light rain can be expected in parts of the Western Cape.  Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures are expected over the North - West and the Gauteng Province.

MSBWX National Disaster Observations:  Veld fires are burning again in parts of SA.   Further fires are expected as hot weather continues over many parts of the country. Good news is that the Western Cape will soon feel the effects of a cold front that will hopefully cool things down.  Please be careful around open fires, throwing away of cigarette butts and equipment that can start a fire. Be fire wise!
 
NSRI National Warnings and News: ------Nil

- MSBWX, SAWXREP + SAWS  

#SAWeather and #Disaster #Observations South Africa : 14 January 2015 04h00 SAST - MSBWX

SAWS SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS: 
 
WARNINGS: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the western interior of the Northern Cape, interior of the West Coast District, Cape Winelands and Little Karoo.  

WATCHES: -----Nil 

SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORIES: 1. Extremely hot conditions are expected over the interior of the West Coast District. 2. Hot and dry weather conditions will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions over the interior of the Northern and Western Cape interior.  

MSBWX National Severe Weather Observations:-----Nil 

MSBWX General Weather Observations:  Cool, warm to very hot conditions expected today over parts of SA. Thunderstorms and rain showers can be expected in parts of  Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal.  

MSBWX National Disaster Observations:  

1. Several veld fires were again burning in parts of the Western Cape yesterday.  Fire fighting services on scenes to contained and extinguish the fires.

Images: Working on Fire (Click on images or larger view.)

2. Drought lingers over KZN  - Neighbours are turning to spying on each other as the fear of taps running dry grows on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Confronted with the possibility of the water supply running out by June, residents have been reporting neighbours who are wasting water and violating restrictions to local authority Sembcorp Siza Water. Body corporates have issued fines of R3000 to residents who do not abide by the "level three" water restrictions. Umgeni Water yesterday said the current level of Hazelmere Dam, which supplies Ballito, Verulam, La Mercy, Westbrook, Tongaat, Seatides, Groutville, Ndwedwe and Umhlali, was only 37%. "This represents a serious situation which is deteriorating as a result of the absence of the expected spring and summer rains," Umgeni Water spokesman Shami Hurichunder said. Ballito ward councillor Colin Marsh said residents took the restrictions very seriously. "The residents have accepted that times are tough and the community has stepped up. "Residents are even reporting their neighbours who are watering their gardens despite being told not to. This is good because we are all affected by this," he said. Sembcorp patrols the area to ensure that water is not wasted. "There have been very few fines and some holidaymakers were warned," Marsh said. Dolphin Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association chairman Louis Luyt jnr said residential body corporates had already issued several fines. "One body corporate issued a fine of R3000 to one of its members who used a hosepipe to wash out his garage," he said. Sembcorp spokesman Khosi Mathenjwa said 14 fines had been issued to date. The level three restrictions include a total ban on the use of hosepipes and on the use of spa hot tubs. No new swimming pools may be constructed and only recycled water may be used to top up existing pools. Sembcorp has warned that it might have to cut off the water supply from 9pm to 5am. "This has not yet happened but it could become a reality very soon as levels drop further," said Luyt.  - Times Live

Kwazulu Natal faces water shortage: Umgeni Water's Shami Harichunder says residents and businesses in KZN need to prepare for possible stringent water restrictions. He says the recent rainfall has not been enough to raise water levels in dams that supply water to households. ''The reality is that the situation has not improved at all. Rains have not come, in fact experts are now saying good rainfalls are only expected around March or April of 2015,'' he said. As a result, districts such as Ilembe District Municipality have already started implementing restrictions that see water available only at selected times during the day. - East Coast Radio.

NSRI National Warnings:------ Nil

- MSBWX + SAWXREP + SAWS 

Southern Cape: Drought predicted for Eden

KNYSNA NEWS FLASH - The manager of Eden Disaster Management, Gerhard Otto, issued a serious warning that the entire Eden District, including Knysna and surrounds, is entering a predicted drought period of 18 months. According to Otto, the South African Weather Service predicts much lower than normal rainfall in the area for the next 18 months. He warned that this will also result in greater risk of fire and urged people to be extra careful when making fires. "We have already notified all the municipalities within the Eden District and they now have to put disaster management plans in place."  - Knysna Plett Herald

Updates to follow!

Droogte: Noodroep vir voer

SUID-KAAP LANDBOU NUUS - Boere wat voer kan skenk om mede-boere in die droogtegeteisterde gebiede van die land Noordwes te help oorleef, moet dringend na vore kom.

Voer bestem vir Noordwes, sal met vragmotors vervoer word totdat ‘n gratis treindiens hopelik voor die einde van die maand voer na Noordwes, die Noord-Kaap en die Vrystaat sal vervoer.

“Ons kan nie wag vir die trein nie,” het Boeta du Toit, voorsitter van Agri Noordwes, vroeër die week gesê. “Die situasie is benard. Elke vrag hoë-waarde voer ry ons aan solank ons geld het vir vervoer.”

Sedert Desember is sowat 150 ton lusern vanuit die Klein Karoo per vragmotor na Noordwes se droogterampgebiede vervoer waar dit aan boere uitgedeel is. Die vragmotorvervoer word befonds uit skenkings wat Noordwes van die publiek af kry.

Die uitgestrekte Noordkaap is in Desember 2013 as droogterampgebied verklaar. Volgens Johan van Rensburg, bestuurder van Agri Noord-Kaap, is die voortslepende droogte volgens opgetekende reënvalsyfers vergelykbaar met die droogte van 1932/33.

“Dit het op plekke gereën, maar vee- en wildboere in die gebied suid van die Oranjerivier word die ergste geraak,” het hy gesê. Lusern kos tot R2000 per ton. Melkboere kry ook swaar.

In sowat 20 distrikte in veral die westelike- en suidelike Vrystaat het die droogte rampafmetings aangeneem, het Henk Vermeulen, bestuurder van Agri Vrystaat, gesê.

Transnet het ‘n treindiens beskikbaar gestel vir vervoer vanaf die Wes-Kaap na die droogtegebiede. “Sodra ons weet hoeveel voer uit die verskillende gebiede geskenk word, kan Transnet bereken hoeveel trokke by elke oplaaipunt verskaf moet word,” het Johan Coetzee, kantoorhoof van Gerrit van Rensburg, Wes-Kaapse minister van landbou, gesê.

Boere in die Overberg-distrik kan hul geskenkte voer besorg by Rietpoel-stasie naby Caledon, terwyl boere in die Langeberg-gebied hul voer by Swellendam-stasie kan besorg.

Boere in Eden kan hul geskenkte voer by Camfer-stasie op Herold besorg. “Ons sal help om die voer op die trokke te laai,” het Jan Weys, hoofbestuurder van Tuinroete Agri.

Volgens Carl Opperman van Agri Wes-Kaap, wat die voerhulp koordineer, is alle voer en voerreste is welkom.

Boere wat lusern, garsbale of voerreste kan skenk, moet asseblief voor 10 Januarie met Tisha Steyn kontak maak by 084 581 9512 of tishasteyn20@gmail.com.

- Knysna-Plett Herald