Ever stepped outside at ten in the morning and felt like the day had already won? That’s the mood in a good part of the country right now. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says the heatwave isn’t packing up just yet, and some provinces will keep sweating until Monday. Add a few storms and a nasty fire danger warning, and you’ve got a weekend that needs a little planning. Nothing complicated though. This is an easy rundown of what’s coming.
What the weather service is saying
Forget a single story for the weather this weekend, because it’s all over the place. Some towns will bake. Others might catch a shower or a rumble of thunder. And a few spots along the coast will actually feel cool, which some of us would happily swap places for.
SAWS has put out heatwave warnings for parts of KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. People throw the word around loosely, but the meaning is simple. It’s when temperatures stay well above normal for days on end. One hot Saturday doesn’t count.
Up in northern KwaZulu Natal, the heat should hang on until Sunday. Mpumalanga gets it longer. Persistently high temperatures are expected there until Monday, though the escarpment areas are left out of that warning.
There’s some hope on the horizon for Friday, with isolated showers and thunderstorms possible in parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the North West and the Free State. Don’t get too excited. A passing shower rarely breaks a heatwave. The easy move is to check your local forecast each morning and plan around it, rather than trust the sky.
Heatwave Mpumalanga Gauteng KwaZulu Natal Limpopo: what to expect
Plenty of people are searching for the latest heatwave mpumalanga gauteng kwazulu natal limpopo news, so I’ve kept it simple. The table below shows each province side by side, and the details follow after it.
| Province | Expected conditions |
|---|---|
| Mpumalanga | Fine and warm to hot. Partly cloudy over the Highveld in the afternoon. Isolated thundershowers possible in the south west. The Lowveld will be very hot in places. |
| Gauteng | Partly cloudy and warm, with a chance of isolated showers and thundershowers. Hot in the extreme north. |
| KwaZulu Natal | Heatwave in parts of the north until Sunday. Extremely high fire danger in some areas. |
| Limpopo | Fine and hot to very hot. Partly cloudy, with isolated afternoon thundershowers possible in the south west. |
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga begins fine and warm to hot. As the day moves along, the Highveld picks up some cloud, and the south western corner could see a thundershower or two.
Then there’s the Lowveld, which is going to be properly hot in places. If that’s where you live or work, don’t fight it. Start early, finish the heavy stuff before the sun climbs, and find shade when it gets rough.
Gauteng
Gauteng got off lightly this time. Think partly cloudy and warm, with the odd shower or thundershower possible. The far north is the exception. It’ll be hot up there, so don’t assume the whole province is cruising.
KwaZulu Natal
Northern parts of KwaZulu Natal are under the heatwave warning until Sunday. If you’re in that area, take it easy through the hottest hours. Some parts of the province also face extremely high fire danger, which we’ll get to in a moment.
Limpopo
Limpopo is looking fine and hot to very hot. Some cloud will drift in, and a few afternoon thundershowers might form over the south western parts. Fire danger is a concern here as well.
Fire danger is a serious worry
The heat is one problem. Dry veld is another. SAWS has warned of extremely high fire danger in parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. That’s a long list.
In conditions like these, one careless spark can do a lot of damage. The public is being asked to take real care with open flames. Think about it before you light that braai. If you do light one, keep it small, keep water nearby and never walk off and leave it. Put cigarettes out properly, and don’t flick a butt out of a car window. Clearing dry grass and leaves from around your house is also worth doing if it’s safe. None of this is hard, and it might save someone’s home.
Easy ways to stay safe in the heat
You don’t need a gadget to survive a heatwave. Mostly it’s common sense, and it’s easy to forget when you’re busy.
Water comes first. Drink it before you feel thirsty, because by then you’re already behind. Keep a bottle in the car, on your desk, in your bag. If you work outdoors, this matters even more.
Next, dodge the midday sun where you can. The worst of it usually sits somewhere between late morning and mid afternoon. Do your errands early or leave them for the evening.
Dress for it too. Loose, light coloured clothes beat anything tight or dark. A hat and some sunscreen are simple ways to dodge a burn that ruins your week.
And know the warning signs. A pounding headache, dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea or confusion could mean heat exhaustion. If someone looks really unwell, get them somewhere cool, give them water and call for medical help quickly.
Protect the people and pets who need extra care
Heat doesn’t hit everyone the same way. Young children, older people and anyone with a health condition feel it harder. On a busy day it’s easy to forget them, so make a quick check part of your routine. A knock on the door or a short phone call is plenty.
Never leave a child or a pet in a parked car. Not for five minutes, not for two. Cars turn into ovens much faster than most people expect.
Pets feel the weather too. Give them shade and clean water all day, and walk the dog early or late, when the pavement isn’t hot enough to hurt their paws.
Use water wisely
When it’s this hot, water use goes up in most homes. Showers get longer, gardens get thirsty, and it adds up quickly. A few small changes are easy to make. Water the garden early morning or late evening. Fix that dripping tap. Skip the hosepipe when you wash the car. It sounds small, but when a whole street does it, you notice.
What about the thunderstorms?
Some provinces could get thunderstorms even as the heat carries on. That sounds like a treat, but storms bring trouble of their own. Lightning, heavy rain and gusty wind can show up fast. When you hear thunder, head indoors and stay clear of open fields, tall trees and water.
Because the weather can turn quickly, check the forecast again later in the day. Don’t rely on what you saw at breakfast.
How to keep up with official updates
Warnings can change, so stick to sources you can trust. The official South African Weather Service website has the latest forecasts and warnings, and it’s free and easy to use.
If you want wider advice on staying safe during extreme weather and other emergencies, the South African Government website is worth a visit.
The bottom line
So here’s where things stand. The heatwave should last until Sunday in northern KwaZulu Natal and until Monday in parts of Mpumalanga. Limpopo stays hot to very hot. Gauteng is warm, with the north taking most of the heat. And fire danger is extremely high across a big chunk of the country.
The advice is simple. Drink water, stay out of the midday sun, look out for the people around you and be very careful with open flames. Keep an eye on SAWS updates, and take it easy until the weather finally cools down.
About the Author
