The Western Cape could be in for a worse-than-usual fire season due to the heavy rainfall experienced over the past winter season, Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to Samkelo Magwala, a South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecaster, rainfall is a vital factor in determining the risk of wildfire s .
'The level of precipitation impacts both how often and how severe these wildfires will be.
'July (rainfall) was above normal, with some stations breaking records. For instance, Newlands, at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, received over 500mm of rain in July, making it the wettest July since 1999,' he told News24 .
Wouter Kriel, the spokesperson for Local Government MEC Anton Bredell, confirmed that the heavy rainfall would likely significantly impact the upcoming fire season.
