Climate and agricultural conditions – January 2021

[{“type”:”text”,”content”:”#### 1. Current conditionsnnVery heavy falls of rain started to occur over the central to western parts of the country since the second part of December 2020. Localised flooding occurred in areas like Hoopstad and Wesselsbron in the Free State, Augrabies in the Northern Cape, parts of Gauteng, the southern parts of Namibia and western and central parts of the Northern Cape. Rainfall amounts of more than 100mm per day occurred in these areas, resulting in heavy runoff and water-logged conditions. Water-logged soils are starting to cause severe damage to crops in the north western Free State in districts like Bothaville, Wesselsbron, Viljoenskroon and Hoopstad and adjacent districts in the Northwest Province like Wolmaranstad and Bloemhof. Damage is also occurring in the eastern Free State in Bethlehem, Warden, Frankfort and Heilbron.”,”position”:0,”id”:”TSiLcwVhC50TIksd”}]