| MVOTI RIVER: Climate |
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eWISA Home | MVOTI: MAIN INDEX | ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RIVERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of the MVOTI River |
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| TEMPERATURE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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The mean annual temperature ranges between 12°C and 14°C in the west to between 20°C and 22°C at the coast. Maximum temperatures are experienced in the summer months from December to February and minimum temperatures in winter in June and July.(Ref 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Snowfalls on the Drakensberg mountains between April and September have a significant influence on the climate of the WMA. Frost occurs over the same period in the inland areas. The average number of heavy frost days per annum range from 31 to 60 days for the inland areas to nil for the eastern coastal area. (Ref 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| RAINFALL | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rainfall over the area is markedly orographically-related. (Ref 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rain shadows occur in the interior valley basins of the major rivers where the annual rainfall can drop to below 700 mm. The peak rainfall months are December to February in the inland areas and November to March along the coast. The rainfall is seasonal with most rain falling in summer from October to March. (Ref 1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| References | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ref 1: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Internal Strategic Perspective: Mvoti to Mzimkulu Water Management Area : Prepared by Tlou & Matji (Pty) Ltd, WRP (Pty) Ltd, and DMM cc on behalf of the Directorate: National Water Resource Planning (East). DWAF Report No. P WMA 11/000/00/0304. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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