2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

3.3 FrostLinked to the location of the municipal area and the impact of the generaltopography, frost occurs from more or less middle May in most of the areabut somewhat earlier in the areas around Greytown. The centralmountainous areas are generally frost freeThe central areas are relatively frost-free the central areas and frost canoccur until early spring in the northern and southern parts of themunicipality. Frost is a factor in crop selection higher potential agriculturalareas of the municipality.3.4 TemperatureUmzinyathi is located in a moderate temperature region althoughsignificant temperature variations do occur at local level. The southernparts and specifically the mountainous area north of Greytown recoded thelowest maximum temperatures with average maximums below 25°C insummer. All areas where mountains dominate the landscape are relativelycooler with maximum temperatures ranging between 25°C and 27°C. Theplateau landscape and foothills are slightly warmer in summer withmaximum temperatures approaching 30°C. The higher temperatures arehowever found in the Tugela valley where maximum averagetemperatures exceed 30°C in summer.When the average maximum and minimum tempretures are compared themoderating effect of a coastal climate becomes evedent in the southaround Greytown. Although it reports lower maximums it also havegenerally higher average minimum tempretures. This genarlly favours thesugar cane farming along the Mooi River to the south west of Gretown andthe forrestry activties in the area. The opposite is also true of the norternpart where the larger temperature variations of inland climates are evident.3.5 SlopeAs is the case with the local terrain features, slope is a dominant feature indevelopment in the municipal area. It largely determines locality andmobility. Not only is slope very important but also linked to the hydrology ofthe area and climate it can be regarded as the most important determinantof development and settlement patterns in the municipal area.The maximum temperature range over the total municipal area is about5°C which is not much and there is no evidence that maximumtemperature are a factor or constraint on development and developmentactivities in the municipal area.The Tugela River valley records the highest avergae minimumtempretures. Averge minimum tempreture in these valleys exceeds 8°C inwinter. The whole mountainous area south of Mangeni-Rocke’s Drift-Helpmekaar-Sams Hoek, down to the most souther parts of the municipalarea record moderate winter tempretures ranging between 4°C and 8°C.The exception is the higher peaks immediately north of Greytown withminimum avergages down to 2°C. The northern parts remain moderatewith average minimum tempretures between 2°C and 6°C although northof Dundee in the Buffolo River valley average minimum tempretures dropbelow 0°C.Draft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 161Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013