The long weekend is here, and we’ve just received the latest weather update from our friends at People’s Weather (PPL WX), Africa’s first and only 24/7 weather, environmental news and lifestyle television channel.
The weekend also ushers in the astronomical autumn. Yes, beautiful people of Mzansi, the astronomical autumn begins with the autumnal equinox at exactly 11:37 on Saturday morning. However, meteorologists would argue that autumn already started on 1 March.
The confusion around the start date is because meteorological and astronomical seasons are different.
Latest weather update
In astronomy, it’s the position of the earth as it orbits the sun that determines when the seasons start. In meteorology, this is determined by the annual temperature cycle, and the start of the coinciding calendar month.
On Saturday, the sun will shine directly over the equator resulting in equal hours of day and night (autumnal equinox). Candice Mckechnie, an atmospheric scientist, says from Sunday, the length of day will gradually decrease and night time will increase as we move closer to winter.
Weatherwise, the crisp morning air is a clear sign of autumn in full swing but the rain continues despite the change of season. This weekend South Africans are asked to take caution as heavy rains are likely to affect much of the central and northern parts of the country.
On Saturday, a steep upper-air trough will result in widespread rainfall, extensive cloud cover and cool temperatures stretching from the Northern Cape, through the Free State and the Eastern Cape. Light showers expected along the south coast with evening thunderstorms for eastern South Africa.
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Update for other provinces
Fresh to strong southeasterly winds blow along the west coast, with a gusty weekend in store for the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected over eastern and northeastern South Africa on Sunday, with stormy conditions reaching the Lowveld later in the day.
We get an extra weekend day on Monday, with temperatures heating up in the west. Thunderstorms and wet weather remains in the forecast especially for Gauteng and North West. cloudy with the chance of light rain along the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coast.
