Western Cape warns of hotter summer, higher fire risk as El Niño strengthens - IOL

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has urged the agriculture sector to prepare for hotter and drier conditions as El Niño strengthens ahead of summer.

The Western Cape Government has warned farmers and communities to prepare for a hotter and potentially more dangerous summer as strengthening El Niño conditions threaten to increase temperatures, wildfire risks, and pressure on the province’s water resources.

Premier Alan Winde sounded the alarm while addressing agricultural stakeholders at NAMPO Cape in Bredasdorp, saying preparations for the coming summer could not be delayed.

“For our agricultural sector, preparation cannot wait until summer is upon us. Farmers, producers, agricultural organisations, municipalities and our government must all be taking the necessary steps now to reduce risks and protect livelihoods in this critical sector of our economy,” Winde said.

The warning comes as the province braces for the possible effects of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a global climate cycle linked to changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures that can influence weather conditions thousands of kilometres away.

According to the provincial government, ENSO is currently in an El Niño state and is expected to strengthen in the coming months.

While El Niño’s strongest effects in South Africa are generally felt in summer-rainfall regions, authorities warned that the Western Cape could face higher temperatures, greater wildfire danger and additional strain on already critical water resources.

The warning comes after wildfires affected more than 200,000 hectares of land across the Western Cape during the previous fire season.

Winde said recent climate-related disasters had demonstrated why authorities, farmers, and communities needed to prepare before extreme conditions arrived.

“Whether you are in agriculture, education, healthcare, local government or any other sector, we must all be prepared. It does not matter where you live in the Western Cape; we all have a role to play in reducing risk and keeping our communities safe,” he said.

The Premier urged residents and landowners in high-risk areas to begin taking preventative measures immediately.

“For those living and working in areas where the fire risk is higher, now is the time to act. Clearing vegetation, maintaining firebreaks, managing biomass and removing invasive alien plants are practical measures that can make a significant difference when conditions become hotter and drier.”

The provincial government said its concerns extend beyond wildfires, with reduced rainfall, rising temperatures and mounting pressure on water resources posing potential risks to agricultural production, food security and the broader Western Cape economy.

Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Dr Ivan Meyer said farmers had previously shown their ability to withstand severe climate shocks, pointing to the drought experienced between 2014 and 2016.

“Our farmers have already demonstrated their ability to adapt to difficult climate conditions, including the severe 2014–2016 drought period. The current response should therefore recognise the seriousness of reduced rainfall, higher temperatures and pressure on water resources,” Meyer said.

The department will now work with industry stakeholders on interventions aimed at limiting the impact of ENSO on farms and agricultural communities.

These measures include strengthening conservation agriculture, improving water-use efficiency in irrigated farming areas, prioritising assistance for dryland production areas, improving risk-management and preparedness systems, and providing support to agricultural workers.

The government’s warning places renewed focus on preventative measures ahead of the Western Cape’s summer fire season, particularly in agricultural and rural areas where extreme heat, dry vegetation and constrained water supplies could have severe consequences.

Winde said the province’s experience with climate-related emergencies showed that preparation needed to extend beyond farmers and disaster-management authorities to municipalities, public services and individual communities.

The provincial government is urging stakeholders to act before conditions deteriorate, with authorities warning that a strengthening El Niño could compound the risks facing farms, livelihoods and communities during the months ahead.