Category: Water Blogs

By Mlungisi Shabalala, 03 December 2025 The 2024/25 rainfall season followed the 2023/24 El Niño cycle. In Southern Africa, El Niño cycles are associated with hot and dry climatic conditions.  The 2023/24 El Niño cycle, which ended in June 2024, had minimal impacts on water resources availability in UUW’s operational area. However, the effects of… Continue reading An overview of post-El Niño Rainfall in uMngeni-uThukela Water’s Operational Area

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was in an El Niño state from July 2023 to June 2024. In Southern Africa, El Niño cycles are associated with hot and dry climatic conditions. Thus, a prolonged El Niño state often leads to the occurrence of droughts in Southern Africa, which are associated with various negative socioeconomic… Continue reading The Impact of the 2023 El Niño Cycle on Water Resources in uMngeni-uThukela Water’s Operational Area

As of mid-June 2024, oceanic and atmospheric indicators in the central-eastern Pacific Ocean align with neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions, while diminishing El Niño conditions remain in the western Pacific. Predictions from various climate models suggest that the ENSO-neutral conditions will persist for the remainder of the Southern Hemisphere winter season. In addition,… Continue reading El Niño Update – June 2024

According to model assessments by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal remains in an El Niño state for the April-May-June (AMJ) period. Therefore, an El Niño advisory remains as oceanic and atmospheric indicators in the central-eastern Pacific Ocean continue to align with the diminishing El Niño… Continue reading El Niño Update – April 2024

Based on oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the central-eastern Pacific Ocean, an El Niño advisory remains. According to the mid-March model assessments by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal remains in an El Niño state for the March-April-May (MAM) period. There is a high likelihood for… Continue reading El Niño Update – March 2024

Hey there, water users! uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) would like to share the latest update on the ongoing El Niño cycle. Model assessments indicate that the El Niño event has reached its peak, with ENSO currently in a moderate-strong El Niño state. UUW will continue to monitor the development of ENSO as an El Niño advisory… Continue reading El Niño Update – February 2024

uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) continues to monitor the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal and its potential impact on water resources. According to the latest (mid-January) assessment, El Niño conditions in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean remain strong, consistent with the on-going El Niño event. The Southern Oscillation Index, however, was in the neutral region (+3.7)… Continue reading El Niño Update – January 2024

El Niño Update – December 2023 By Mlungisi Shabalala, 01 January 2024 The latest assessment of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal shows that the key oceanic and atmospheric variables in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean remain consistent with the ongoing strong El Niño conditions. Almost all climate models suggest sustenance of the strong… Continue reading El Niño Update – December 2023

El Niño Update – November 2023 By Mlungisi Shabalala, 30 November 2023 uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) continues to monitor the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal and its potential impacts on water resources operated by UUW. The latest climate model updates indicate that the ENSO remains in an El Niño state (Australian Bureau of Meteorology; International… Continue reading El Niño Update – November 2023

By Mlungisi Shabalala, 31 October 2023 uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) continues to monitor the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal and the latest model updates indicate that the ENSO remains in an El Niño state (Australian Bureau of Meteorology; International Research Institute for Climate and Society).  According to the International Research Institute for Climate and Society,… Continue reading El Niño Update – October 2023