Montagu’s winters are usually a time of quiet relief — when grey skies and wet soil promise another season of life for our orchards, vines, and veld. But this past winter (June to August 2025) brought only modest rainfall, leaving our dams worryingly low and our farmers facing another uncertain summer.
Based on local weather summaries and nearby monitoring stations, Montagu’s estimated monthly rainfall was roughly:
• June: 22–35 mm
• July: 25–36 mm
• August: 8–36 mm
That’s a total of about 60–110 mm for the winter — not nearly enough to refill our catchments or replenish the soil. For comparison, a healthy winter would bring closer to 150–200 mm over the same period. The rain we did receive often came in short, intense bursts that ran off the mountains instead of soaking deep into the ground.
The clearest warning sign lies in our dam levels. Montagu’s local storage currently sits around 36%, down sharply from 76% this time last year. Robertson’s dam levels have also dropped — now about 26%, compared to 68% last year. These are serious declines that echo across the Breede Valley. The rivers are running low, boreholes are under strain, and irrigation schedules have already been tightened for fruit and wine producers. Many farms are forced to make tough choices about which crops to water and which to let go.
A few consecutive dry winters have now pushed our region into a state of cumulative stress. With limited inflow and higher demand, every litre counts — from the vineyards and guesthouses to the households that rely on municipal supply. Even our beloved gardens and green belts are feeling the pinch.
The way forward isn’t hopeless, but it requires collective effort. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and fixing leaks all help at a household level. Farmers are adopting more efficient irrigation systems and looking to plant varieties that can cope with less water. Catchment restoration — removing invasive vegetation and improving soil infiltration — remains vital to capturing what little rain we do get.
Montagu’s beauty has always been tied to its resilience. With cooperation, innovation, and a bit of faith in next winter’s clouds, we can weather this drought together and protect the land that sustains us all.