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Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the lowest level of the atmosphere, the troposphere, just below the stratosphere.

Weather - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather

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Taken at 08:50

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CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape has been declared a disaster area.

Premier Helen Zille signed the declaration last week in response to the worst drought the province has experienced since 1904.

It's expected to be gazetted later this week.

The disaster will be classified for three months and can be extended if necessary.

Zille's spokesperson Michael Mpofu said: "The province is now empowered by the law to make certain decisions more swiftly, especially if it relates to reprioritising funding that would normally go to the other things, but is now being redirected because there is an urgent need to deal with an impending crisis. It means we are taking greater control of a situation that could potentially go deeper if it is not dealt with in a proper way."

Meanwhile, long-term climate forecasts for the Western Cape indicate the region will become drier.

A week ago, delegates from various scientific institutions gathered in Cape Town to discuss the province's rainfall patterns.

Scientists revealed rainfall in the province from February to April was less than the same period last year.

The Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth Systems Science, the South African Weather Service and the University of Cape Town participated in the discussion on Western Cape weather patterns.

Experts warn the soil moisture deficit is so severe now that rain water will immediately be sucked up by dehydrated soil.

The CSIR's Doctor Neville Sweijd said the research community was trying to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts in the region.

"Even if we get average rainfall in July, the total season might be below."

(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)

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Western Cape declared disaster zone amid drought

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CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape has been declared a disaster area. Premier Helen Zille signed the declaration last week in response to the worst drought the province has experienced since 1904. It's expected to be gazetted later this week. The disaster will be classified for three months and can be extended if necessary.

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With more and more areas struggling with droughts, conserving water is more important than ever. Even if you’re not living in a drought-stricken region, cutting back on water use also means a lower utility bill and helps conserve a precious resource.

Whether you’re ready to cut back on your showers or replace your lawn with water-wise plants, there are lots of big and small ways that you can conserve water around the home. Don’t worry if you can’t do everything on this list. Just pick a few things to start with, and do more as you can. Even a few small changes can add up to hundreds of gallons in water savings each year! Here are 4 water-saving tips to get you going…

1. Shower Bucket. Instead of letting the water pour down the drain, stick a bucket under the faucet while you wait for your shower water to heat up. You can use the water for flushing the toilet or watering your plants.

2.  Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Water comes out of the average tap at 1.2 litres per minute. Don’t let all that water go down the drain while you brush! Turn off the faucet after you wet your brush, and leave it off until it’s time to rinse.

3. Turn off the tap while washing your hands. Do you need the water to run while you’re scrubbing your hands? Save a few litres of water and turn the faucet off after you wet your hands until you need to rinse.

4. If it’s yellow, let it mellow. This tip might not be for everyone, but the toilet is one of the most water-intensive fixtures in the house. Do you need to flush every time?

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1. Collect rain water
You can collect rain water running from your roof  in a tank and can use the water to water your garden and wash your car.

2. Cover your swimming pool
Use a bubble cover to cover your pool to stop evaporation. This way you won't have to fill up your pool with water all the time and you won't have waste such a big amount of water

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Rain gauges are used to measure the amount of rain received.

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Rain gauges are used to measure the amount of rain received.

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The difference between a weather forecast and a weather report

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The difference between a weather forecast and a weather report

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South African Weather Service - What is the difference between a weather forecast and report?

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Weather Script: ​Today: ​A cloudy, rather cold day with rain, heavy at times, ​quickly spreading from the west during the morning and ​persisting for the rest of the day. Rain may clear the far ​west by evening. Maximum temperature 13 deg C (55 deg ​F). ​Tonight: ​After a wet start, rain will clear steadily eastwards ​followed by much drier weather for the second half of the ​night. Minimum temperature 7 deg C (45 deg F). ​Friday: ​A dry and bright start with some sunny spells in the east ​at first. Cloud and rain, heavy at times, will soon spread in ​from the west. Maximum temperature 16 deg C (61 deg ​F). ​Outlook for Saturday to Monday: ​Remaining unsettled with showers or longer periods of ​rain. Some of the rain may be heavy at times and ​temperatures will be close to normal.​

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Here is the writing frame that we will be using for this cycle's writing

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9:17

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8:30