Jozi weather is just like the city – mild and glorious or frenzied and dramatic

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Most people agree that Joburg has one of the best climates in the world: high blue skies in winter and generally clear sunny weather in the middle of the day (although temperatures drop significantly when in the shade); hot but not humid summer days with evening thunderstorms.  But this wonderful climate is just that …. until it’s not. It can be clear, warm and still one minute and then stormy, wild and dramatic; changeable, extreme, mercurial and hectic … just like life in the city.

THE UPSIDE OF THE RAINY SEASON

Glorious early summer colours on Jozi streets and in the garden

As above so below – purple canopies and carpets in October and November
And add some bougainvillea into the mix for steamy hot vibrancy
The star jasmine was particularly prolific this year with fabulous heady evening scents in October/November
And then came the white agapanthus in November/December
The Telkom Tower emerging through the morning mist after a long night of soaking rain.  The James and Ethel Gray Park in Melrose, one of the many parks near Liz at Lancaster 

WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS VIOLENT: BLUE BRIDGE DELTA PARK

From gentle soaking rains to violent torrential storms and flash-flooding

The Blue Bridge at Delta took a huge battering in the 2025 heavy late-summer rains and resulting flash floods.

The bridge is one of the main access points for people walking to work to and from Parkhurst and Craighall Park/Blairgowrie and to and from Victory Park and Craighall Park/Blairgowrie. And this is without all the dog walkers, cyclists, runners and walkers.  as it was clear it would be some time before the City Council began repairs. some good Samaritan erected a temporary bridge which certainly helped pedestrians. But this then too fell prey to more flash floods.

A good Samaritan built a temporary bridge which in turn got damaged in the hectic storms at the beginning of this summer
Enter the local resident’s Association who drew on Bubele Africa to help clear the debris and repair the temporary bridge.  And Daniel from Delta Cafe ensured that they were treated for their efforts.  Active citizenship at its best!
Late September 2025

And then finally … after many months of nagging by the local residents’ Association, the Joburg Municipality set about repairing the damage to the bridge after 2025’s torrential rain.

Watch thsi space … completion might take some time

Extreme winds ‘uproot’ a VERY heavy umbrella at Liz at Lancaster

A peaceful scene at Liz at Lancaster’s swimming pool with loungers under shady trees and large thatched umbrella.
With apologies to the famous South African Cremora advert: Here “It is not beside ….. but in….side”.  I arrived back late afternoon mid December to this. … that was a strong wind, that was.
Five men could not pull the heavy structure of steel ribs and pole and water-saturated thatch out of the pool. Eventually the only way to get it out was by removing all the thatch before hauling it out.
It took over a week of daily treatments to restore the water to its former inviting clear azure blue.  Thank you to Aquaspec Consultants for excellent service . Here Mr T looks on at the final stage in vacuuming the last layer of sediment settled at the bottom of the pool.
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