Little Respite Seen from Hot, Dry South African Summer – Weather Service

 

Reuters, 29/01 15:34 CET

By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – An El Nino weather pattern which has triggered historic drought in South Africa remains on track to keep conditions hot and dry for the rest of the summer over most of the country including the maize belt, the country’s weather service said on Friday.

South African maize prices have raced to record highs because of the drought, which the central bank once again cited on Thursday as a concern driving food prices and inflation when it raised interest rates by 50 basis points.

“Most models are showing the continuation of a strong El Nino episode towards the late-summer season with the expectation to start gradually decaying during the autumn and early winter seasons,” the service said in its monthly outlook, which gives rolling forecasts for the following five months.

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Source: Euronews