South Africa: Seasonal rainfall & temperature outlook (January to May 2025)!

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued the Seasonal Climate Watch for January to May 2025. The outlook shows that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains in a neutral state and is expected to weaken further. Forecasts suggest that a weak La Niña may develop by mid-summer, potentially impacting South Africa’s summer rainfall only in the latter part of the season. However, there is considerable uncertainty about whether a La Niña event will occur.

Predictions point to above-normal rainfall in parts of South Africa’s northeastern central and coastal areas during late summer, with this trend shifting to the eastern regions in autumn. Minimum and maximum temperatures are generally expected to be above-normal across the country during the forecast period, except for the southern coastal areas, where below-normal maximum temperatures are more likely throughout the summer.