South African Weather Service

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is the meteorological service under the South African government's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. SAWS is a member of the World Meteorological Organization. The agency is similar to the United States' National Weather Service.

Under the South African Weather Service Act (No. 8 of 2001) effective 15 July 2001, SAWS became a public entity.[1]

Data acquisition

Weather stations

South Africa operates a significant number of weather stations in South Africa as well as stations at Gough Island, Marion Island and Antarctica in cooperation with the South African National Antarctic Programme.[2]

List of South African Weather Stations [3]
Name WMO # ICAO Location
Alexander Bay406FAAB28°34′S 16°32′E / 28.567°S 16.533°E / -28.567; 16.533 (Alexander Bay)
Aliwal North546FAAN30°43′S 26°43′E / 30.717°S 26.717°E / -30.717; 26.717 (Aliwal North)
Babanango48828°23′S 31°5′E / 28.383°S 31.083°E / -28.383; 31.083 (Babanango)
Beaufort West728FABY32°21′S 22°35′E / 32.350°S 22.583°E / -32.350; 22.583 (Beaufort West)
Bethal37026°27′S 29°29′E / 26.450°S 29.483°E / -26.450; 29.483 (Bethal)
Bethlehem Airport461FABM28°15′S 28°20′E / 28.250°S 28.333°E / -28.250; 28.333 (Bethlehem Airport)
Bethlehem46228°10′S 28°46′E / 28.167°S 28.767°E / -28.167; 28.767 (Bethlehem)
Bisho Airport75232°50′S 27°27′E / 32.833°S 27.450°E / -32.833; 27.450 (Bisho Airport)
Bloemfontein Airport442FABL29°6′S 26°18′E / 29.100°S 26.300°E / -29.100; 26.300 (Bloemfontein Airport)
Calvinia618FACV31°28′S 19°46′E / 31.467°S 19.767°E / -31.467; 19.767 (Calvinia)
Cape Agulhas92034°50′S 20°1′E / 34.833°S 20.017°E / -34.833; 20.017 (Cape Agulhas)
Cape Columbine71232°50′S 17°51′E / 32.833°S 17.850°E / -32.833; 17.850 (Cape Columbine)
Cape Point91634°21′S 18°30′E / 34.350°S 18.500°E / -34.350; 18.500 (Cape Point)
Cape Saint Francis93834°12′S 24°50′E / 34.200°S 24.833°E / -34.200; 24.833 (Cape Saint Francis)
Cape Saint Lucia49628°30′S 32°24′E / 28.500°S 32.400°E / -28.500; 32.400 (Cape Saint Lucia)
Cape Town International Airport816FACT33°59′S 18°36′E / 33.983°S 18.600°E / -33.983; 18.600 (Cape Town International Airport)
Carolina380FACL26°4′S 30°7′E / 26.067°S 30.117°E / -26.067; 30.117 (Carolina)
Cedara58029°32′S 30°17′E / 29.533°S 30.283°E / -29.533; 30.283 (Cedara)
Cradock74432°10′S 25°37′E / 32.167°S 25.617°E / -32.167; 25.617 (Cradock)
De Aar536FADA30°39′S 24°1′E / 30.650°S 24.017°E / -30.650; 24.017 (De Aar)
De Aar538FADY30°38′S 23°55′E / 30.633°S 23.917°E / -30.633; 23.917 (De Aar)
Döhne75432°31′S 27°28′E / 32.517°S 27.467°E / -32.517; 27.467 (Döhne)
Douglas53029°4′S 23°45′E / 29.067°S 23.750°E / -29.067; 23.750 (Douglas)
Durban International Airport588FADN29°58′S 30°57′E / 29.967°S 30.950°E / -29.967; 30.950 (Durban International Airport)
East London Airport858FAEL33°2′S 27°50′E / 33.033°S 27.833°E / -33.033; 27.833 (East London Airport)
Ellisras156FAER23°43′35″S 27°41′18″E / 23.72639°S 27.68833°E / -23.72639; 27.68833 (Ellisras)
Estcourt47829°00′S 29°53′E / 29.000°S 29.883°E / -29.000; 29.883 (Estcourt)
Fauresmith54229°46′S 25°19′E / 29.767°S 25.317°E / -29.767; 25.317 (Fauresmith)
Fleur De Lys29224°32′S 31°2′E / 24.533°S 31.033°E / -24.533; 31.033 (Fleur De Lys)
Frankfort362FAFF27°16′S 28°30′E / 27.267°S 28.500°E / -27.267; 28.500 (Frankfort)
Fraserburg624FAFR31°55′S 21°31′E / 31.917°S 21.517°E / -31.917; 21.517 (Fraserburg)
George Airport828FAGG34°00′S 22°23′E / 34.000°S 22.383°E / -34.000; 22.383 (George Airport)
Germiston36926°15′S 28°9′E / 26.250°S 28.150°E / -26.250; 28.150 (Germiston)
Gough Island906FAGE40°21′S 9°53′W / 40.350°S 9.883°W / -40.350; -9.883 (Gough Island)
Graaff Reinet736FAGR32°15′S 24°32′E / 32.250°S 24.533°E / -32.250; 24.533 (Graaff Reinet)
Graskop28624°56′S 30°50′E / 24.933°S 30.833°E / -24.933; 30.833 (Graskop)
Hoedspruit290FAHS24°22′S 31°2′E / 24.367°S 31.033°E / -24.367; 31.033 (Hoedspruit)
Jansenville73832°56′S 24°40′E / 32.933°S 24.667°E / -32.933; 24.667 (Jansenville)
Kimberley Airport438FAKM28°48′S 24°46′E / 28.800°S 24.767°E / -28.800; 24.767 (Kimberley Airport)
Klerksdorp347FAKD26°52′S 26°43′E / 26.867°S 26.717°E / -26.867; 26.717 (Klerksdorp)
Kroonstad35227°40′S 27°15′E / 27.667°S 27.250°E / -27.667; 27.250 (Kroonstad)
Kuruman33227°28′S 23°26′E / 27.467°S 23.433°E / -27.467; 23.433 (Kuruman)
Ladysmith476FALY28°34′S 29°46′E / 28.567°S 29.767°E / -28.567; 29.767 (Ladysmith)
AFB Langebaanweg714FALW32°58′S 18°10′E / 32.967°S 18.167°E / -32.967; 18.167 (Langebaanweg)
Levubu18223°5′S 30°17′E / 23.083°S 30.283°E / -23.083; 30.283 (Levubu)
Lydenburg18425°6′S 30°28′E / 25.100°S 30.467°E / -25.100; 30.467 (Lydenburg)
Macuville18022°16′S 29°54′E / 22.267°S 29.900°E / -22.267; 29.900 (Macuville)
Mafikeng242FAMM25°47′S 25°32′E / 25.783°S 25.533°E / -25.783; 25.533 (Mafikeng)
Makatini40027°24′S 32°11′E / 27.400°S 32.183°E / -27.400; 32.183 (Makatini)
Mara17623°9′S 29°34′E / 23.150°S 29.567°E / -23.150; 29.567 (Mara)
Marion Island994FAME46°53′S 37°52′E / 46.883°S 37.867°E / -46.883; 37.867 (Marion Island)
Marnitz16223°9′S 28°13′E / 23.150°S 28.217°E / -23.150; 28.217 (Marnitz)
Matatiele57030°21′S 28°48′E / 30.350°S 28.800°E / -30.350; 28.800 (Matatiele)
Middelburg638FAMB31°29′S 25°2′E / 31.483°S 25.033°E / -31.483; 25.033 (Middelburg)
Mossel Bay928FAMO34°11′S 22°9′E / 34.183°S 22.150°E / -34.183; 22.150 (Mossel Bay)
Nelspruit288FANS25°26′S 30°59′E / 25.433°S 30.983°E / -25.433; 30.983 (Nelspruit)
Newcastle37827°44′S 29°55′E / 27.733°S 29.917°E / -27.733; 29.917 (Newcastle)
OR Tambo International Airport368FAJS26°8′S 28°14′E / 26.133°S 28.233°E / -26.133; 28.233 (OR Tambo International Airport)
Ottosdal34226°49′S 26°1′E / 26.817°S 26.017°E / -26.817; 26.017 (Ottosdal)
Oudestad27225°11′S 29°20′E / 25.183°S 29.333°E / -25.183; 29.333 (Oudestad)
Oudtshoorn826FAOH33°34′S 22°13′E / 33.567°S 22.217°E / -33.567; 22.217 (Oudtshoorn)
Phalaborwa190FAPH23°56′S 31°9′E / 23.933°S 31.150°E / -23.933; 31.150 (Phalaborwa)
Pietersburg174FAPB23°52′S 29°27′E / 23.867°S 29.450°E / -23.867; 29.450 (Pietersburg)
Piet Retief38827°2′S 30°48′E / 27.033°S 30.800°E / -27.033; 30.800 (Piet Retief)
Pilansberg25025°20′S 27°10′E / 25.333°S 27.167°E / -25.333; 27.167 (Pilansberg)
Plessisdraai34427°59′S 26°8′E / 27.983°S 26.133°E / -27.983; 26.133 (Plessisdraai)
Pofadder41629°8′S 19°23′E / 29.133°S 19.383°E / -29.133; 19.383 (Pofadder)
Port Elizabeth Airport842FAPE33°59′S 25°36′E / 33.983°S 25.600°E / -33.983; 25.600 (Port Elizabeth Airport)
Port Nolloth40829°14′S 16°52′E / 29.233°S 16.867°E / -29.233; 16.867 (Port Nolloth)
Port Shepstone58430°44′S 30°27′E / 30.733°S 30.450°E / -30.733; 30.450 (Port Shepstone)
Port St Johns674FAPJ31°38′S 29°33′E / 31.633°S 29.550°E / -31.633; 29.550 (Port St Johns)
Postmasburg43028°19′S 23°4′E / 28.317°S 23.067°E / -28.317; 23.067 (Postmasburg)
Potchefstroom Agric.35026°44′S 27°4′E / 26.733°S 27.067°E / -26.733; 27.067 (Potchefstroom Agric.)
Potchefstroom Upper-Air35126°40′S 27°6′E / 26.667°S 27.100°E / -26.667; 27.100 (Potchefstroom Upper-Air)
Potgietersrus27624°11′S 29°1′E / 24.183°S 29.017°E / -24.183; 29.017 (Potgietersrus)
Pretoria (Irene)263FAIR25°55′S 28°13′E / 25.917°S 28.217°E / -25.917; 28.217 (Pretoria (Irene))
Pretoria262FAPR25°44′S 28°11′E / 25.733°S 28.183°E / -25.733; 28.183 (Pretoria)
Prieska52829°40′S 22°45′E / 29.667°S 22.750°E / -29.667; 22.750 (Prieska)
Queenstown648FAQT31°54′S 26°52′E / 31.900°S 26.867°E / -31.900; 26.867 (Queenstown)
Richard Bay498FARB28°48′S 32°6′E / 28.800°S 32.100°E / -28.800; 32.100 (Richard Bay)
Riversdale92634°5′S 21°15′E / 34.083°S 21.250°E / -34.083; 21.250 (Riversdale)
Robertson71833°50′S 19°54′E / 33.833°S 19.900°E / -33.833; 19.900 (Robertson)
Rustenburg25225°43′S 27°18′E / 25.717°S 27.300°E / -25.717; 27.300 (Rustenburg)
Shaleburn57229°48′S 29°21′E / 29.800°S 29.350°E / -29.800; 29.350 (Shaleburn)
Sheeprun56430°59′S 28°23′E / 30.983°S 28.383°E / -30.983; 28.383 (Sheeprun)
Skukuza29624°59′S 31°36′E / 24.983°S 31.600°E / -24.983; 31.600 (Skukuza)
Somerset East74232°44′S 25°35′E / 32.733°S 25.583°E / -32.733; 25.583 (Somerset East)
Springbok512FASB29°40′S 17°52′E / 29.667°S 17.867°E / -29.667; 17.867 (Springbok)
Standerton37226°56′S 29°14′E / 26.933°S 29.233°E / -26.933; 29.233 (Standerton)
Sutherland72232°23′S 20°40′E / 32.383°S 20.667°E / -32.383; 20.667 (Sutherland)
Taung33627°33′S 24°46′E / 27.550°S 24.767°E / -27.550; 24.767 (Taung)
Thabazimbi25424°35′S 27°25′E / 24.583°S 27.417°E / -24.583; 27.417 (Thabazimbi)
Thohoyandou19222°58′S 30°30′E / 22.967°S 30.500°E / -22.967; 30.500 (Thohoyandou)
Touws River81833°21′S 20°3′E / 33.350°S 20.050°E / -33.350; 20.050 (Touws River)
Tristan Da Cunha902FATC37°3′S 12°19′W / 37.050°S 12.317°W / -37.050; -12.317 (Tristan Da Cunha)
Tswelopele28424°39′S 30°17′E / 24.650°S 30.283°E / -24.650; 30.283 (Tswelopele)
Twee Riviere32226°28′S 20°37′E / 26.467°S 20.617°E / -26.467; 20.617 (Twee Riviere)
Tzaneen18623°50′S 30°9′E / 23.833°S 30.150°E / -23.833; 30.150 (Tzaneen)
Umtata668FAUT31°32′S 28°40′E / 31.533°S 28.667°E / -31.533; 28.667 (Umtata)
Upington Airport424FAUP28°24′S 21°16′E / 28.400°S 21.267°E / -28.400; 21.267 (Upington Airport)
Vanwyksvlei52430°21′S 21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°E / -30.350; 21.817 (Vanwyksvlei)
Vanzylsrus33026°53′S 22°3′E / 26.883°S 22.050°E / -26.883; 22.050 (Vanzylsrus)
Vredendal614FAVR31°40′S 18°30′E / 31.667°S 18.500°E / -31.667; 18.500 (Vredendal)
Vryburg338FAVB26°57′S 24°38′E / 26.950°S 24.633°E / -26.950; 24.633 (Vryburg)
Warmbaths26824°54′S 28°20′E / 24.900°S 28.333°E / -24.900; 28.333 (Warmbaths)
AFB Waterkloof264FAWK25°50′S 28°13′E / 25.833°S 28.217°E / -25.833; 28.217
Welkom346FAWM28°00′S 26°40′E / 28.000°S 26.667°E / -28.000; 26.667 (Welkom)
Wepener55029°44′S 27°2′E / 29.733°S 27.033°E / -29.733; 27.033 (Wepener)
Willowmore83233°17′S 23°30′E / 33.283°S 23.500°E / -33.283; 23.500 (Willowmore)

Weather radar

Near real-time (~5 minutes delay) weather radar is available for most of the country,[4] even within the Kruger National Park.[5]

Marine weather buoys

Between 30 and 40 drifting weather buoys are deployed annually.[2]

Weather modification

The SAWS, in cooperation with a number of other entities, is actively involved in weather control research under the South African National Precipitation Research and Rainfall Enhancement Programme, specifically with the Bethlehem Precipitation Research Project[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "S A Weather Service Act (8 of 2001)". The Presidency of South Africa. 29 June 2001. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  2. 1 2 "Weather Program". South African National Antarctic Program. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  3. ↑ "Meteorological Station Location Information". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  4. ↑ "Radar Home". South African Weather Service. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  5. ↑ Nick Zambatis and Lynette Strauss. "Radar Station Completed". Siyabona Africa Travel. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  6. ↑ "The Bethlehem Precipitation Research Project". South African Weather Service. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  7. ↑ "South African National Precipitation Research and Rainfall Enhancement Programme (NPRP-SAREP) 1990 - 2000". South African Water Research Commission. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
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