South African Summer Crops Benefit From Good Rain
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, February 9 (World Weather Inc.) – A good distribution of rain and sunshine occurred in South Africa summer crop areas during the past week. Areas that did not receive much rain had sufficient subsoil moisture to draw upon and many of the 
drier biased areas in the west received a favorable amount of moisture to improve crop and field conditions. Rain will continue to be scattered across South Africa’s main production area during the coming week that will continue to promote a good environment for most crops.
The greatest amount of rain during the past week fell from North West and Free State into northern portions of Eastern Cape and portions of western and southern Natal. Moisture totals for the seven-day period ending Wednesday morning ranged from 0.75 to 3.00 inches with local amounts up to 5.32 inches. Portions of eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga also received 0.50 to just over 3.00 inches of rain while western Limpopo and Mpumalanga through northern Natal reported little to no rain. Eastern and central Northern Cape received 0.25 to 1.50 inches of rain.
Temperatures were near to slightly above average during the past 
week. Daily high temperatures were in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit most often in Northern Cape, Western Cape, western Eastern Cape and immediate neighboring areas. A few locations occasionally warmed above 100 degrees as well. Highs elsewhere were in the 70s and 80s with pockets in the 90s. Low temperatures were in the 50s and 60s with pockets in the 70s.
Topsoil moisture is adequate to abundant in a large portion of the production region due to rainfall in recent weeks. Eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga dried down in this latest week, but adequate amounts of moisture were still present in the soil to perpetuate normal crop development. In contrast, soil moisture much of Northern Cape despite the recent precipitation was still rated short to very short.
The outlook for crops remains favorable for much of South 
Africa. Timely rain and warm weather in recent weeks promoted aggressive growth in much of the production region. The only concern remains for some of the western groundnut and cotton production areas in eastern Northern Cape and western portions of both Free State and North West due to the extended period of dryness earlier in the growing season.
Scattered showers will evolve on a frequent basis in South Africa’s main production areas through the middle of next week. The frequent precipitation will maintain favorable soil moisture and assure a good environment for crops to reproduce and fill in. Some of the rain will not be great enough to counter evaporation and some net drying will result. However, very few locations will be dry enough to harm production or serious stress crops. Moisture totals through next Wednesday morning will range from 0.50 to 2.00 inches with local amounts over 3.00 inches in Eastern Cape and southern Natal. Periods of light rain will continue on a frequent basis February 16-22.
Temperatures will trend near to above average through next Wednesday despite the frequent precipitation. Daytime highs will often peak into the 80s and 90s with pockets in western South Africa warming above 100 degrees. Portions of central and eastern South Africa will occasionally warm into the 70s as well during periods of significant rainfall. Lows will be in the 50s and 60s with pockets in the 70s.
Crop development will advance swiftly in much of the production region during the next two weeks. A gradual reduction in precipitation during the second week of the outlook coupled with continuing warm weather will promote a better environment for early soybean maturation and harvesting.
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