South Africa On Edge Of 100-Year Drought - NOAA

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"South Africa is experiencing a drought over most of its summer rainfall region and the current Octover 2003 conditions are similar to those experienced at the time of the devastating 1992 crought, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said on Wednesday.

US National and Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite imagery is indicating very similar results when comparing the 1992 and 2003 October vegetation condition maps, the CSIR said.

'The imagery shows shocking similarities with the disastrous drought year of 1992. If current dry conditions prevail, South Africa can expect one of the biggest drought disasters in 100 years. The huge number of wildland fires that occurred in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces between July and September have destroyed thousands of hectares of grazing. Farmers will be forced to sell livestock due to a lack of grazing,' the CSIR (said).

The drought in Limpopo is worsening, with many dams nearly half full and water levels in some areas having fallen to as low as 2%. The main provinces affected by the drought are the Limpopo Province, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The Free State and Northern Province will also be seriously affected if no rain falls within the next few weeks."

EDIT

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/276566.htm