Increased understanding helps communities prepare for extreme weather events

Climate change is affecting South Africans by significantly altering local weather patterns through higher temperatures, as well as the occurrence of extreme weather events. In fact, its impact in recent years has been so great that the government is planning to launch a national Climate Change Response Fund, which is intended to help pay for infrastructure to make South Africa more climate-resilient in the future.

This thinking reminds us of the importance of weather forecasting, both in the short term as well as over longer timeframes.

“While the planet’s climate has changed continually over the last 800,000 years through natural cycles and fluctuations, scientists have shown that human activity is driving our present spike in above normal temperatures globally,” says Vox Weather Meteorologist, Annette Botha.

“In particular, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas, has led to the ‘greenhouse’ effect, which is metaphorically and literally causing our planet to burn.”

In this article, we discuss how the science of weather forecasting can provide a greater understanding of climate change, and thus help countries and communities around the world to be better prepared against the possibility of extreme weather events – as well as realising the critical importance of continuing the fight to reduce ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions.

Putting Climate Change Under the National SA Spotlight

As outlined previously, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the implementation of the national Climate Change Response Fund (CCRF) during the February 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA). The CCRF is intended to be a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to fight against the increasingly devastating impacts of the climate crisis.

During his announcement, President Ramaphosa noted the occurrence of devastating wildfires in the Western Cape, destructive floods in KwaZulu-Natal, intense heat waves in the Northern Cape, a persistent drought in the Eastern Cape and intense storms in Gauteng.

“While individual events like floods or fires cannot be solely attributed to climate change,” says Botha, “we are observing a broader trend: a steady increase in global temperatures and a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Climate is naturally variable, but human-driven warming is clearly shifting the baseline, making such events more likely and often more severe.”

Extreme Weather Events: Cause and Effects

Global warming has come about because of the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases – including water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorocarbons – that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere and so cause a rise in global average temperatures.

Botha notes: “Because warmer air can hold more moisture, climate change results in more intense rainfall. As a result, because rainfall is increasing on average across the world, the chances of flooding are getting higher. On the other hand, climate warming also increases evaporation on land, which can worsen drought and create conditions more prone to wildfires. Added to this, the Earth’s warmer and moister atmosphere, together with warmer oceans, can create stronger hurricanes.

“Rising sea levels, which are partly caused by melting ice in the poles, increase the amount of seawater that is pushed onto shore during coastal storms, resulting in more destructive storm surges and flooding. The net result is that global warming is leading to more extreme weather events, and we have seen all of these climate change results in South Africa over the past few years.”

Lives are obviously at stake in the event of severe weather conditions if information isn’t available for warning purposes.

Botha notes: “Early warnings give people time to prepare against severe weather events like floods, tornadoes and lightning storms, whether that’s evacuating, securing property or staying indoors. Without timely updates, communities are left vulnerable, increasing the risk of damage, injuries and even loss of life.

“However, climate change is impacting on weather forecasting by altering weather patterns and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events, making long-term predictions more challenging.”

This is where technology comes in, to further back up the science of weather forecasting.

The Science and Technology of Weather Forecasting

Botha clarifies: “While short-term weather forecasts remain accurate, climate change introduces uncertainties in long-range predictions, due to shifts in climate variables like sea surface temperature and atmospheric circulation patterns. Scientists are developing new modelling techniques and tools to improve the accuracy of these long-term predictions.

“Meteorologists pull data from multiple sources including satellites, radars, weather stations and even high-altitude weather balloons. We also use global weather models and international meteorological databases. In South Africa, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) is a key provider of local weather data.”

Around the globe, high-performance computing (HPC) is crucial for weather forecasting today because it enables the efficient processing of vast amounts of data and complex mathematical models, leading to more accurate and timely predictions. HPC involves the use of multiple supercomputers to process complex and large calculations. This technology provides sufficient computational resources to improve the accuracy of short-term weather forecast systems models, with the aim of further reducing the severity of weather and climate related natural disasters.

Linking People Through Technology

With climate change bringing more frequent and extreme weather events, platforms like Vox Weather are becoming even more important, says Botha.

“As South Africa’s first independent digital weather platform, Vox Weather delivers real-time, hyperlocal forecasts via social media and our website. We make weather updates engaging and accessible, and with close to 500,000 followers, we’re reaching more people than ever.

“We look forward to continuing to add information on climate change to our daily short-term broadcasts, as well as continuing to update our followers on the perils of climate change, and the ways in which both countries and individuals can play their role in helping to reduce greenhouse gases, in order to reduce global warming – for our future, and that of future generations,” she concludes.

Communication is vital in spreading the message

One of the many impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations (UN), is the harm it causes to both humans and animals – something that continues to worsen as the earth heats up by even a fraction of a degree because of greenhouse gases. Raising awareness about climate change is a cause very dear to Vox Weather.

Annette Botha, Vox Weather Meteorologist, says: “It’s an established fact that climate change harms the health of living creatures through such factors as air pollution, extreme weather events like drought and flood, disease, food insecurity, forced displacement and even pressures on mental health.

“The main cause of climate change – namely the burning of coal, oil and gas – causes air pollution, which can in turn lead to respiratory diseases, strokes and heart attacks. One study has found that air pollution from fossil fuels is responsible for nearly one in every five deaths worldwide.”

Communication to continue driving awareness is a key element of combatting climate change. “This is a conversation we should all be having,” says Botha, “and it’s critical for everyone, no matter their age, to understand how humanity’s actions are affecting the health of our planet.

“The past 13 months have all exceeded the 1.5ºC threshold of global warming, marking an unprecedented streak of record-breaking temperatures. The period from July 2023 to June 2024 is now officially the warmest 12-month period on record, with global temperatures averaging 1.64ºC above pre-industrial levels.”

In this article, Vox Weather looks at climate change and how it affects everyone – and some of the actions that people can take to play their part in reducing global warming.

Unpacking the Terminology

‘Climate’ simply means the long-term statistics of weather, while ‘climate change’ refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. According to the UN and other credible sources, human activities have been the main drivers of climate change. Today, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is about 50% higher than in 1750, far exceeding the natural changes over at least the past 800,000 years.

Because people have been burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas at significant rates since the Industrial Revolution[1], this in turn has raised the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, causing the earth’s surface and its oceans to heat up. If this is allowed to continue unchecked, experts say the consequences would be catastrophic.

[1] The Industrial Revolution was a period of major mechanisation and innovation that began in Great Britain during the mid-18th and early 19th centuries and later spread throughout much of the world. The British Industrial Revolution was dominated by the exploitation of coal and iron.

“We can think of global warming as being one part of climate change,” says Professor Francois Engelbrecht of the Wits Global Change Institute (GCI) in a Vox Weather interview with Annette Botha. “It’s also not wrong to think of global warming as being the cause of climate change.

“Global warming means a systematic increase in the world’s average ‘natural temperature’ at the surface of the planet, which should be around 14ºC – this was its temperature during the pre-industrial era. Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the available energy of the planet – the ‘energy budget’ – as well as the average natural surface temperature of the planet, by 1.64ºC for the most recent 12-month period based on new data.”

The international Paris climate agreement is a global treaty that aims to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and, as a result, limit the global temperature increase to well below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below an increase of 1.5ºC.

A 1.5ºC increase in global temperatures will have a significant impact on the climate, but a 2ºC increase will be far worse, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, according to Professor Engelbrecht, recent data shows that the world has now breached the 1.5ºC mark for 13 consecutive months, emphasising the urgency of reducing emissions faster than ever.

More Energy and Water in the Atmosphere

Says Prof Engelbrecht: “The warming of the planet has been accelerating over the past few decades, and this is projected to continue for as long as we continue pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With the warming of both the atmosphere as well as the oceans, we have more available energy in and around the planet.

“The atmosphere uses this energy to build weather systems that are more intense, for example tropical cyclones become more intense, because the more energy and heat that is available in the system, the more intense such systems can become.”

He clarifies that a warm atmosphere can also hold more water vapour to contribute to intense weather patterns: “In March 2019, southern Africa experienced the disastrous incident of killer cyclone Idai, which took place over Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. It killed over 1,000 people and left 2.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance after the catastrophic damage caused by the strong winds and extensive flooding.”

Floods in February this year in Kwa-Zulu/Natal were declared a national disaster, following on from previous storm floods in KZN in April 2022, which led to over 400 deaths and forced Transnet to close the port of Durban. Floods in Gauteng in early March underscored this principle that global warming is leading to more extreme weather events, with the potential of more moisture and energy in the weather systems as they unfold.

How Can Individuals Help to Reduce Global Warming?

“While the biggest causes of global warming happen at the industrial level, sanctioned by the governments that rule countries around the world, there are still things that we can do as individuals to play our part in trying to reduce our energy consumption,” says Botha.

The ideas below are endorsed by the United Nations.

Save energy at home: You can use less energy by reducing your heating and cooling use, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a tumble dryer.
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle: Electronics, clothes, plastics and other consumer items cause carbon emissions at each point in the production cycle. Every kilogram of textiles produced generates about 17 kilograms of CO2 emissions. You can consciously plan to buy fewer things, shop second-hand, and repair what you can and in this way reduce your carbon footprint.
Eat more vegetables: Eating more plant-based food, and less meat and dairy, can significantly lower your environmental impact, because producing plant-based foods requires less energy, land and water, and generally results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Throw away less food: When food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. To avoid this, try to use what you buy and compost any leftovers. Cutting your food waste can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2 emissions per year.

Spreading the Word on Climate Change

Botha says the ideas presented are all relatively easy for households to slot into their lives.

“We would encourage people to play their part in small lifestyle changes that could add up to significant outcomes in reducing individual global warming levels,” she notes, “and if everyone plays their part, small efforts can all add up to larger results that could make a difference. At the same time, it’s obviously critically important that these efforts also take place at national and global levels also.

“At Vox Weather, we endorse the replacement of fossil fuel-based power plants with renewable energy like wind or solar farms wherever possible, or at least its addition into the available energy sources. Wind turbines and solar panels don’t release emissions that pollute the air or cause global warming.

“Vox weather is passionate about spreading the word so that by increasing awareness, people will be inspired at both the individual and enterprise levels to play their part in trying to curb the current levels of climate change and global warming. In this way, we will protect our precious planet for the future – not just for individuals who are alive today, but also for our children’s children to come,” she concludes.

If you would like to watch the full interview with Professor Francois Engelbrecht and Annette Botha, please click here.

Weather forecasting helps people plan their day, from choosing what to wear to making travel decisions.

But it’s also critical for businesses farmers depend on forecasts for planting and harvesting, construction projects rely on them for safe scheduling, and logistics companies adjust routes to avoid weather delays.

In the bigger picture, accurate forecasts help reduce risks, improve safety and optimise operations across industries.

Weather forecasts are also tremendously important because severe weather events like floods, tornadoes and lightning storms can damage infrastructure and are also life-threatening.

Vox Weather is South Africa’s first independent digital weather platform, delivering real-time, hyperlocal forecasts via social media and its website. Vox Weather Meteorologist Annette Botha notes: “We make weather updates engaging and accessible, and with over 400,000 followers, we’re reaching more people than ever.

“Our goal is simple: to keep the public informed with accurate, informative and timely weather insights. At the same time, because our platform is powered through social media, it gives us as a team the ability to listen to, and engage with, our audience, which in turn offers unique opportunities to share information about the weather.”

In this article, we look at how weather forecasts help South African individuals and businesses to go about their daily lives more safely and efficiently.

The Business of Weather Reports

Weather reports are brought to us by meteorologists, who are highly skilled, specialist professionals in their field. In South Africa, meteorologists complete a BSc in Meteorology (three years) and an Honours degree (one year). The University of Pretoria (UPS) is the only educational institution in South Africa that offers this qualification.

Botha’s colleague, fellow Vox Weather Meteorologist Michelle Cordier – who herself was the top Honours student in Meteorology during her Honours degree year at UPS – explains: “The studies include physics, mathematics, geographic information systems (GIS), and meteorology modules. Many meteorologists then specialise in areas like severe weather or climate change, and gain hands-on experience through internships and training.”

But where do these two highly-trained professionals get their actual data from, in order to bring us their detailed weather forecasts?

Botha clarifies: “We pull data from multiple sources—satellites, radars, weather stations and even high-altitude weather balloons. We also use global weather models and international meteorological databases. In South Africa, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) is a key provider of local weather data.”

Weather Warnings and People’s Safety

Early warnings give people time to prepare – whether staying indoors, moving vehicles under cover in the event of a cloudburst or hailstorm, securing their property, or even evacuating the area. Without timely updates, communities are left vulnerable, increasing the risk of damage, injuries and loss of life.

Extreme weather events in South Africa recently included the tornado sightings in KwaZulu-Natal in mid-2024, as well as the unusually heavy snowfalls in certain places in 2023 and 2024 – all of which are potentially life-threatening.

South Africa has also experienced its share of longer-lasting extreme climate events, including the drought in Cape Town from 2015 to 2018, the storms in Durban in July 2022, and the Eastern Cape drought, which started in 2015 and was followed by flooding in early January 2022. Globally, the world in recent years has seen floods in Kenya and Pakistan, extreme wildfires in Australia and California, and droughts in Zimbabwe and Mexico, to name but a few examples.

Figure 2: Images that circulated on social media of the rope tornado near Utrcht (left) and the wedge tornado near Tongaat (right). Source: Facebook, Unknown

How Weather Forecasting Assists Industries

Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain or excessive heat, can cause problems for different industries in different ways. For example, heavy rain and hail stones can cause flooding, damaging buildings, equipment and vehicles, while floodwaters can disrupt transportation and make it difficult for employees to get to work. Prolonged heatwaves can affect the health and safety of construction workers outdoors, or increase the use of air conditioning systems, leading to higher energy costs.

There are many ways in which weather forecasting benefits industries, including the following:

Agriculture: Farmers rely on forecasts for planting, irrigation and harvesting decisions
Insurance: Weather alerts help clients take preventive measures, while historical data helps insurers verify claims and reduce fraud.
Transport and Logistics: Road, air, rail and sea transport systems adjust routes based on weather updates to avoid delays and safety risks.
Construction: Weather forecasts help schedule outdoor work and keep workers safe from hazards like lightning.
Mining: Open-cast mines need to prepare for storms, while underground mines must be cautious of lightning-induced surges or gas ignitions.
Other industries: Tourism, energy, and retail are also affected – weather affects travel, power generation, and even shopping trends!

Introducing the Tornado Twister: Changing Weather Tracking in SA

The Tornado Twister weather station is transforming weather tracking by allowing all South Africans to contribute real-time, hyper-local data to the Vox Weather network. This means more accurate forecasts and a better understanding of local conditions. But it’s also a game-changer for individuals.

Farmers can track rainfall, frost and wind for better planning.
Gardeners and greenhouse owners can monitor temperature and humidity for optimal growing conditions.
Business managers in construction, event planning and transport (to name just a few) can make smarter weather-based decisions.
Sports enthusiasts can plan their exercise schedules for optimum safety and comfort.
Weather followers can stay informed with precise, on-site data.

Botha explains: “With a Tornado Twister, you’re not just checking the weather – you’re shaping the forecast! And the Tornado Twister network is expanding fast within the Vox Weather community – more people are joining all the time, which means more real-time data from different regions, making our forecasts even more accurate and useful.”

“We’ve also just partnered with the University of Cape Town and Oxford,” adds Cordier, “and are rolling out 25 stations across the Kalahari to track dry lines, which are key areas where thunderstorms are likely to develop. This collaboration is a huge step in understanding severe weather patterns and improving forecasting for these remote regions.”

The network provides significant detail to the Vox Weather community, as the stations measure real-time temperature, humidity, wind speed and rainfall, helping the meteorologists to refine their forecasts, identify weather patterns and issue timely warnings.

Cordier notes that this detailed, real-time data translates into more accurate and localised forecasts for everyone: “Whether it’s a farmer needing to protect crops or a family planning a road trip, the more data we have, the better we can help people prepare for changing weather conditions.”

Botha concludes: “With climate change bringing more frequent and extreme weather events, platforms like Vox Weather are becoming even more important.

Our mission isn’t just about forecasts-it’s about helping people stay safe, prepared, and informed every single day.”

The weather services warned that heatwave conditions are expected in Pretoria this weekend. Here is the latest.

Heatwave conditions are expected in Pretoria this weekend.

According to VoxWeather forecaster Michelle du Plessis, heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures are expected in places over the Limpopo Lowveld and Limpopo Valley until Sunday but until Saturday over Gauteng, parts of North West, the Free State and western Bushveld of Limpopo.

Vox Weather is transforming weather monitoring – for everyone

“Rain, rain, go away, come again another day…”

We’re probably around nursery school age when we first realise the everyday importance of the weather in our lives. Sun, wind, rain, snow: the weather affects many personal aspects, including our health and moods, safe travels, our social lives and energy consumption, and of course planning which clothes to wear.

Let’s also not forget the ice-breaking conversational advantages of talking about the weather during awkward social occasions, like first dates.

Basically, the weather and its daily impact on our lives is always a big deal – which is why Vox was so pleased to launch its weather channel online in 2021, in partnership with presenter-meteorologist Annette Botha. Vox Weather, with almost 400,000 followers currently, is now incredibly excited to begin launching some amazing products to its loyal fans.

Here’s a look at the first Vox Weather offering that’s geared to help amateur weather enthusiasts everywhere with their daily and weekly planning: the ‘Tornado Twister’ weather station.

Storm Chasing at Home

Tracking the weather is fascinating (just ask practically everyone who lives in the UK).

With a Tornado Twister weather station in your home, you can accurately monitor the weather, and be in the know about factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall, windspeed, solar radiation, the UV index and air pressure around your home environment – over and above your daily tuning into Vox Weather for the rest of your province and the country, of course.

With access to their own personal weather stations, homeowners receive real-time weather updates and can predict changes in weather patterns. Having access to accurate weather data at your fingertips lets you plan your day – and your week – accordingly.

You can get alerts about sudden storms, heavy rainfall or even extreme temperatures, allowing you to take necessary precautions. This type of information is obviously also excellent for farmers and anyone else whose work would be badly affected by storms or heavy snowfall – time to bring in the sheep and cattle, or close the cable car station?

Sports Fans, Athletes and Concerts

We don’t say ‘Sunny South Africa’ for nothing!

SA is famous for our sunshiny climate and with this comes our national love of the outdoors: what’s summer without planning regular braais and picnics, not to mention attending rugby, football and cricket matches, and concerts in the park? And for those who are do-ers and not only spectators, it’s important to know about the UV index for that pre-Comrades qualifying marathon.

Knowing the weather conditions in advance helps us to make informed decisions about taking part in sports activities and other fun outdoors, to make sure everyone can have the best time possible – including singing in the rain, if necessary, but at least protected by a raincoat or umbrella.

Calling All Gardeners

Weather obviously plays a vital role in maintaining a thriving garden. Different plants have specific requirements when it comes to sunlight, temperatures and moisture. With a weather station, you can monitor these factors and adjust your gardening plans to help your plants stay healthy and happy. Monitoring humidity levels also helps to prevent plant diseases.

Getting Started

The Tornado Twister is very easy to install and set up on your own, or if you prefer, an on-site installation option is available with a Vox engineer for a small fee (you can contact Vox on 087 500 0530 to inquire).

In addition, it comes with a general warranty (subject to terms and conditions): each unit is guaranteed for up to 12 months from the date of purchase and Vox Weather will replace any components at no charge if they should become faulty.

A quick note: it’s important to keep your Tornado Twister free of insects and spiders that might want to make their home in it. We know that you’ll follow a gentle re-homing policy and place them somewhere else in your garden to carry on playing their part in your mini ecosystem.

Transform Your Weather Monitoring

With accurate weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities zoned into your particular property, the Tornado Twister helps you plan your daily activities effectively and take necessary precautions against unpredictable weather conditions.

Whether it’s optimising your gardening, maximising your energy efficiencies or planning your best social life, the personalised weather data adds an extra layer of convenience to your planning.

Enhance your daily life by bringing the technology of weather intelligence right into your home – not forgetting to join the Vox Weather community online for your daily national forecasts, of course!

Click here to find out more.

JOHANNESBURG – A meteorologist has dismissed claims that a Tornado was the cause behind the storm that ripped through Randfontein on Wednesday.

The West Rand part of Gauteng was left to pick up the pieces after buildings, houses and cars were left damaged as the result of the storm.

The SA Weather Service have issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in Gauteng.

A fierce debate on whether was it a tornado or landspout has followed after the incident. Meteoroligst from VOX Weather, Annette Botha says this was the work of a landspout.

iWeathar’s weather station fills the observational data gaps required for exceptional weather data and accuracy
Vox Weather’s forecasts currently have a reach of over 64 million, with nearly 350,000 followers across all social media platforms.
Customers can purchase an iWeathar station and join the Vox Weather network to provide situational and observational weather data on demand

Vox Weather, a specialist weather service led by meteorologist Annette Botha, partnered with iWeatharto provide viewers with granular weather observations that provide exceptional accuracy and insights. The Vox Weather platform – which has seen exceptional growth from 64, 000 views in its first month to 65 million in July 2024 – has developed this partnership to gain granular visibility into local weather and build communities with local companies and individuals throughout the country.

“We felt there was scope for us to invest in services that would allow us to provide better observational data that would ensure our viewers got faster, more accurate weather updates,” explains Annette Botha, a well-known meteorologist and Vox Weather presenter. “We wanted to partner with a local manufacturer to build our own private network for weather observations that would ensure our viewers always have access to incredibly reliable data. Now, anyone can own a reliable and capable weather station and provide data to the Vox Weather network and benefit from having access to their own local data and insights.”

The data provided by the weather station is set to become an invaluable commodity for dedicated viewers of the Vox Weather platform. It transforms the weather service into a private weather station network thanks to the accessibility of the iWeathar solution which provides users with the option of setting up their own weather station. The data provided by these individual stations can then be collated by Vox Weather and shared with viewers.

“We are moving into absolutely granular detail that can transform how farmers, for example, manage their environments in the event of extreme weather conditions,” says Botha. “We can, for example, talk about how a farm in the Eastern Cape had wind speeds of more than 200 kilometres per hour. Accurate data that’s personalised to the region and can help businesses and individuals stay safe, or manage their livestock.”

Russell Witthuhn from iWeathar developed the weather stations over a period of years, refining the technology and the capabilities to ensure they were not only agile and accurate, but cost-effective. A decent weather station costs upwards of R50,000 and there was a need for a solution that was less expensive, and easier to install and maintain.

The iWeathar station is light, portable and easy to install with a full sensor suite across temperature, humidity, barometer, wind speed, direction, solar radiation, rainfall and more,” he continues. “Currently, we’re developing 30-40 stations a month for different suppliers and providing hands-on support to our customers

The weather stations are Vox Weather branded, come with ongoing support, are built with local, reliable materials, and are designed to be highly efficient and resilient weather tools. Their accuracy and capability are enhanced by digital sensors, tools and systems built to withstand all types of weather. When the data from the stations is collated over time, it will then be used to predict trends and discover patterns in specific areas. This information can inform planning and agricultural management, and offer near-real-time insights that can have a significant impact on local business. For farmers, for example, it can help them to predict harvest times, compare annual changes, humidity levels, pest threats and more.

“The magic lies in the data,” concludes Botha. “The agricultural sector will feel immediate value, but these benefits will also extend to homeowners, local community vegetable gardens, commercial sites, and more. Even knowing about incoming cold fronts can help utilities plan ahead, and people manage their wellbeing. The potential and scale of these stations can reimagine how we talk about, and understand, the weather in South Africa.”

In just a year and a half since it launched, Vox Weather has grown to 100,000 dedicated followers and a reach of close to two million people on average per month, validating Vox’s belief that there was a glaring gap in South Africa for a dynamic, insights- and technology-driven weather platform.

Poised for more growth and partnerships, Vox Weather has welcomed an intern to learn from renowned meteorologist and weather presenter Annette Botha. Michelle Cordier is sure to play a pivotal role in the expected rapid growth of the platform.

“It is exciting to think that in such a short time we have hit the 100,000 follower mark across the board. These are loyal followers who log in and engage with the content because they trust us and see us as a reliable source. We are averaging more than 4,000 new followers every month and the reach is outstanding,” says Botha.

Vivica CEO Jacques du Toit, who announced the launch of Vox Weather in the second half of 2021, says that now that the country has seen what a holistic platform can deliver, over and above static weather forecasts, he expects Vox Weather to play an increasingly important role in people’s lives.

“As the country grapples with severe flooding, it is evident to many people that weather is about far more than whether it will rain today or not. And so, as we push ahead with Vox Weather, we seek to continue driving credible climate awareness and activism among South Africans generally, and the youth specifically.

“When we started out, it was important to have a qualified meteorologist present forecasts, not only to ensure Vox Weather was credible but also to inspire young people to pursue a career in the STEM subjects. With this in mind, we are excited to witness how the intern Michelle blossoms and grows under the mentorship of Annette, proving that there are meteorology career paths for young people, as well as the chance to drive climate activism. Because the platform is powered through social media, it gives the team the ability to listen to its audience, which has resulted in exciting opportunities and no doubt will lead to many more,” says Du Toit.

“In the agricultural sector, this is very important, because you don’t get something more personal than someone’s livelihood. This is a sensitive sector and you don’t want to tell farmers when it is time to plant and when they should cultivate. Rather, you want to provide a bigger and fuller picture that empowers them with information to support their decision-making, and this is how our partnership with Laeveld Agrochem started – to do a weather forecast specifically for the agricultural sector. This is the first-ever agriculture-specific weather forecast in South Africa, and besides all the positive feedback from all stakeholders, the farmers are happy and that’s what counts the most.”

Botha says that following the successful partnership with Laeveld Agrochem and the rapidly growing reach of the platform, many organisations contact Vox Weather to discuss potential projects and broader climate activism. “This is important to us, as one of our initial goals was to become a credible source of weather information. In 18 months, we have gone from an idea to the voice of weather in South Africa, and we are humbled by the support,” she says.

Botha adds that as part of Vox Weather’s mission to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers, they wanted to show young people that these careers didn’t need to be in researching academic papers, but could instead be fun, vibey and in touch with people, while still, 100% anchored in science.

“This is why we held our open day. Naturally, I could see that we were on a growth trajectory and would need a more hands-on deck. However, in addition to this, we wanted to show young people that platforms such as Vox Weather provide real career opportunities,” she says.

Cordier presented at the open day, and Botha says that the effort, research and passion that went into her presentation immediately resonated with the team. “She put in so much work, her presentation was genuinely insightful and she was honest and positive. I am excited to see her stretch herself, grow and develop her own personal brand of weather forecasting and presenting.”

Cordier says that her passion for the weather was ignited by a Geography teacher at school, and stuck with her all the way through her honours degree at the University of Pretoria. “However, during Covid, we learnt that the SA Weather Service would not be doing a forecasting course the following year. Naturally, I was heartbroken and thought my career wouldn’t happen. It’s at this time that I heard about Vox Weather and the opportunity to present ideas, and as they say, the rest is history.

“I am incredibly honoured to be part of the Vox Weather team and as we grow from strength to strength. I look forward to playing my part in bringing the voice of the weather to the people of South Africa.”

Original article here

Let’s talk about the weather…

Doesn’t sound inspiring, but we promise it’s a lot more interesting than you think. We know, we know, the thought of the weatherman elicits feelings of Evan Almighty, or a throwback to the SABC theme music while Simon with the glasses lets you know about rainfall. True, it may be a throwback to a bygone era, but for many, the novelty is soon replaced by the quicker, more accessible app on your phone available at the click of the button. The thought of listening to a human being speak about things to come is probably as enticing as another ‘family meeting’ reminding us to mask up and get our vaccine (as if we haven’t already heard it 1000 times), while wishing the presenter had a 2x speed option.

But what if it didn’t need to be?

There were probably many who, upon hearing about the Vox Weather channel launch, thought this wasn’t the greatest idea. 50 000 followers in six months later, and we ourselves are surprised at the speed, popularity and growth of our channel – and it warms our heart (pun intended) to know that we’re not the only ones who miss the good ol’ days.

It doesn’t hurt that our key presenter (and face of Vox Weather) is no old bag of wind (again, pun intended) either, but rather the charismatic, bubbly, and lively qualified meteorologist Annette Botha. A woman who embodies the term passion, Annette combines her in-depth knowledge of the elements with experience, exuberance, and an infectious desire to make people smile, instantly captivating her audience and allowing them to immerse themselves in a truly educational experience. A brief chat with Annette is all it takes to help us understand that, in fact, there’s far more to the weather than how hot or cold it’s going to be tomorrow. Instead, there’s literal science behind the theory, which guides informed decisions capable of informing, educating, and preparing an entire nation – and this, we think, is worth the price of admission alone.

Rather than get caught up in the boring stuff, Vox Weather takes the unique approach of focusing on the human first, and the content second.

By adding a real-life, real-world presenter who, in her own words, understands her ability to spread happiness and joy across the country, we’re able to break through an automated, digitised world to give people the connection they require (after all, who does connectivity better than Vox?).

We’ve said out with the new, and in with the old-school, presenting our information in bite-sized, easy to digest daily installments; providing shareable, watchable, and presentable content to our ever-expanding audience of loyal fans. There is a twist, however. Whilst for many, watching the weather is (or used to be) a quick in-and-out, 10 minutes then done experience, we’ve managed to successfully turn it into must-watch programming. It wasn’t easy, but through a combination of consistency, delivery, accessibility, and quality, we’ve managed to hone our craft and create a series of humble, positive, and engaging content.

So, what’s on the horizon?

Well, Annette herself would probably know better than us, but our key focus at Vox Weather is diversity and expanding our reach to make the weather accessible to a wider audience. We aim to incorporate team members with fresh ideas, a different perspective and an equally infectious energy, so as to make what we do even more popular than it already is. We realise that South Africa is the only country in the world to boast 11 official languages, so our aim is to inch towards speaking to our people in a way that resonates with them. Also, if Annette gets her way, we’ll be flying into the eye of a hurricane – but hopefully one quite far away from South Africa.

Truth be told, it’s been an eventful journey full of milestones, growth and fulfilled potential – but we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Much like the weather, one can never be too sure what the future holds, but we’re committed to expanding, engaging and doing our part to bring edutainment to everyone.

Original article here

While there are plenty of topics to talk about at any given moment, from politics to sports to “did you see what Eskom is up to?”; one discussion trumps them all – and it’s the weather.

Sure, sometimes, “let’s talk about Weather” leads to rolled eyes or an attempt to fill an awkward silence, but for the most part, bringing it up is a surefire way to stimulate conversation (or, if you’re like us, a viable excuse to rant about how every time you wash your car it starts to rain). There’s so much to talk about when we talk Weather that we wouldn’t even know where to begin – but that might just be because it’s our industry and we’re in the know. For the most part, people comment purely on what they’re experiencing (or fearing, if there’s a wedding coming up), without truly understanding the complexity behind the concept.

However, what many don’t realise is that the Weather is actually a vital part of our entire world, way of living and existence at large.

Don’t believe us? Consider for a second the impacts of climate change and the way it’s radically affecting the world we live in. Below, we’ll look at exploring why one of the most fundamental, global hot topics (which we’ve all heard about thanks to Greta Thunberg) is so important and understand who it affects most:

Humans

Let’s start with the ones who feel it the most (because we talk about it the most) – human beings. Ever noticed winter is more biting and summer is longer, hotter, and seemingly never ending? In Jhb alone, it’s been a heatwave since August – and we used to be considered cold. We feel the effects of climate change both physically and in the damage caused to our surroundings – even if it doesn’t directly impact everyone individually. For example, while most of the country could enjoy a steady stream of water throughout the year, there were many parts of Cape Town suffering through their worst drought in recent memory. Climate change affects all of us, whether we realise it or not – and we humans are the ones who can fully understand it’s impact.

Animals

That being said, we aren’t the only inhabitants of mother earth. Animals across the globe are dealing with drastic changes to their natural habitats – environments which thousands of years of evolution have suited them for, making escape a very unfeasible possibility. From polar bears to whales to lions in the Sahara, drought, flooding, and fluctuating temperatures are proving devastating. By wreaking havoc on the natural order of their environments, climate change is drastically (and negatively) impacting the lives of innocent creatures everywhere.

Plants

It goes without saying, but changes to the environment have a knock-on effect on their surrounding landscapes. From previously thriving ecosystems being starved of rain to the rapid melting of glaciers in both the North and South Poles (as well as the damage this flooding causes), our environment at large is radically impacted by fluctuating temperatures and its resultant effects.

From trees dying to glaciers melting, fluctuating temperatures are wreaking havoc on once stable, thriving ecosystems.

People with scant resources

For us in SA, accessing fresh (or, at least sort of fresh) produce is as simple as visiting a grocery store (or ordering a delivery, if you’re that way inclined). However, there are many areas (such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the jungles of South America) where entire villages and towns rely only on what they can slaughter, grow, and harvest. The damage incurred by ever changing temperatures and its impact on numerous ecosystems can provide a challenge to many in terms of sourcing and enjoying food which may have previously been abundant.

Farmers

As a farmer, you know the importance of healthy crops, good weather and regular rain. With things changing from year to year, it becomes both difficult to predict and challenging to maintain regular or healthy growth of produce, which in turn has a knock-on effect on your income, output, and supply to those who need it.

Tomorrow’s generation

We may be starting to feel some effects today, but by far those who are most affected will be tomorrow’s generation, as the impacts of climate change worsen and more radically alter the world they live in. They say the wisest man is he who plants a tree knowing full well he’ll never be able to sit in its shade, which is why it’s more important now than ever to do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and, if not reverse, at least stabilise the impact we’re having on our climate to the best of our ability – if not for our sake, than for those of our children.

So, even though you may not realise it at first, we can probably agree that the weather involves far more than rain forecasts or cloudy with a chance of snooze. It’s a good thing, then, that we have esteemed industry experts leading the revolution and at the forefront of the fight to educate, empower and usher in a generation which cares about something as seemingly trivial, yet vitally important, as the weather.

Wanna know about all things Vox Weather related? Check out our social channels for daily updates here, here, here or here

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