South Africa, Record lows in parts of the north Eastern Cape

[Mark]

Temperatures plummet to record lows in parts of the north Eastern Cape

11:01 (GMT+2), Wed, 11 June 2014

 


Temperatures plummet to record lows in parts of the north Eastern Cape
Temperatures plummet to record lows in parts of the north Eastern Cape
  The PE branch of the SA Weather Service says record low minimum temperatures were recorded in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape overnight.

 The coldest reported temperature was in Buffelsfontein where the mercury plunged to a mind-numbing minus 18.3 degrees.

 Minimum temperatures in Queenstown, Somerset East, Cradock, Jamestown and Aliwal North plunged to between minus 4.2 and 11.2.

 Barkley East dropped to minus 10.4 degrees, the coldest all time minimum on record for the town.

 According to weather office spokesperson, Garth Sampson the cause of the low temperatures is that two cold fronts passed over the region in the past few days and the area is at present under the influence of a dominating high pressure system. Cold polar air was then injected over the region after the cold front had passed.

 The high pressure system gives rise to clear skies and little to no wind. This implies maximum outgoing radiation (cooling of an already cold area) and no mixing of the different air layers

 This colder air is also very dry and therefore the dew point temperatures will be low. As the dew point temperature drops it allows the temperature to follow suit.

 Below is a table of significant temperatures for the region

 The table states the minimum temperature measured on Wednesday morning.

 Graaff Reinett
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -7.9
 Coldest July 1996 -9.4


 Cradock
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -4.2
 Coldest July 1996 -4.1


 Elliot
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -10.4
 Coldest June 1996 -9.9

 Queenstown
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -6.8
 Coldest July 1996 -7.0


 Somerset East
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -6.1
 Coldest July 2003 -6.0
 Coldest June June 1996 -5.6


 Jamestown
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -11.2
 Coldest June 1996 -13.3
 Coldest June June 1996 -13.3


 Aliwal North
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -9.5
 Coldest July 1992 -11.5
 Coldest June June 1992 -10.5


 Barkley East
 TODAY 11th June 2014 -10.4
 Coldest July 1992 -10.0
 Coldest June June 2013 -9.2
http://www.algoafm.co.za/article.aspx?id=9681

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