LOURENS RIVER: Climate

eWISA Home  |  LOURENS: MAIN INDEX | ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RIVERS
                             
 

Map of the LOURENS River

E-mail us                    
TEMPERATURE
The mean annual temperature is 20 °C.  There is a great variation in temperature range between summer and winter.  Very high summer temperatures have been experienced but the difference between day and night temperatures are not extreme, even in winter. Winter temperatures in general are not as extreme as those experienced further inland.    (Ref 1)

Snow can occur on the higher ground in winter. 

The Lourens River catchment is partially protected from the coastal winds by the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains .  The predominant wind direction is south-east or north-west and very strong winds can be experienced.  (Ref 1)

    RAINFALL                                    
The Lourens River lies within the winter rainfall region (Heydorn & Tinley, 1980).  The mean annual rainfall is approximately 1200mm in the proximity of the mountain ranges and 915mm in the lower regions.  The mean annual precipitation of the Lourens River catchment, is 1002mm, whilst the mean annual evaporation is calculated at 1410 mm (DWAF, 2003).  (Ref 1)
  References                                      

Ref 1: Estuaries of the Cape Report No. 17 Lourens (CSW 7) CSIR RESEARCH REPORT 416.

Ref 2:  DWAF, 2003.  State-of-Rivers Report, River Health Programme (2003).  Diep, Hout Bay , Lourens and Palmiet River Systems.

  Useful links