6 JANUARY 1998. SOUTH AFRICA: CLIMATE (HEAT & DROUGHT)

Nicole Mordant of Reuters reports that the usually temperate Cape Province is experiencing 40 degree C and drought, damaging some local vineyard production. Eastern and northern South Africa remain unaffected, with near normal rain. The South African weather service regards this as the country's most severe ENSO event of this century. Fortunately dam levels are high and farmers responded to early warnings and modified their planting practices to reduce their risk.

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