Page 209 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 1

CPS1280 Willard Z. et al.

a) May b) June

c) July d) Aug
Figure 2. Monthly winter rainfall variability (CV%) for the region in Western Cape for the
months a) May b) June c) July and d) August.

4. Discussion and Conclusion
The MK Test revealed that there has been few significant change in the
amount of rainfall received for the stations under study from 1980 to 2017.
The rainfall for the month of June has increased over the years whilst the
months at the beginning and the end of the season have recorded monotonic
decreasing trend. It is also interesting to note that June is least variable and
the months May and August have higher variability as compared to June. The
Hermanus and Strand stations located in Overberg and City of Cape Town
respectively, but near to each other, are generally showing a positive trend for
June and July. They also have CV% of less than 50% for June and July.
The results from this study have shown that the water challenges that City
of Cape Town and surrounding areas are facing in recent times cannot be
mainly attributed to reduced rainfall. Some certain months have shown an
increasing and less variable rainfall quantity.

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