Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Speaking of South Africa (Because I Wanted To, Damnit)
This article linked by Drudge sort of grabbed my attention this morning.
THE icy weather of snow, hail and heavy rain that has swept across South Africa over the past few days has set 54 weather records.
The South African Weather Service said 34 new records were set on Monday and another 20 yesterday. Almost all records were for the lowest maximum and minimum daily temperatures in towns across the country.
Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma both recorded their highest daily rainfall, at 68mm and 71.2mm respectively, on Monday. Plettenberg Bay recorded its lowest minimum temperature, 5.6°C, yesterday. Tsitsikamma had its lowest maximum temperature on Monday, 12.1°C, and its lowest minimum yesterday, 6.3°C.
The lowest minimum temperature recorded was -6°C in Welkom, while the lowest maximum temperature was a mere 1.7°C in Barkly East. Both were recorded on Monday night.
“Why did it grab my attention?” you ask. Because I spent a little quality time on the phone with a gentleman from Joburg yesterday and he was telling me that they were expecting incredibly low temperatures last night--something on the order of -4°, although I’m not sure if he was speaking in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Either way, much of southern Africa isn’t really big on central heating in their homes.
Not that winter (June to August) temperatures don’t drop--South Africa isn’t as warm as many people might imagine. Still, the weather is typically moderate compared to, say, winters in Ohio. Not a huge story, really, but I find myself feeling a little tiny bit of sympathy for my friends in the area.
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I suddenly find myself having a pang on sympathy for my mother-in-law.
Is your mother-in-law down there? You’ll have to tell me more about that.
Someone has to say it, so it might as well be me:
The weather in South Africa is another consequence of Global Warming!
PS: Winters in Ohio really aren’t bad. Winters in Cleveland kinda suck, thanks to a phenomenon known as “lake-effect snow.” Weather South of Cleveland, even as far North as Akron, is markedly different.
She joined the Peace Corps a year ago and is serving down there.
Dude, IDOL FINALE! BAD Idol Finale! Where are you in our hour of need???
Sorry about that. On the other hand, you’ll have to tell me more about your mom-in-law at the party.
Jerry, you know that was in my head, didn’t you? Especially since here in Colorado we’re looking at extra-special cold weather and a good chunk of snow in the mountains over the last few days.
In my head, though, most of Ohio suffered from pretty bad winters. Shows what I know.