South Africa is bracing for a mix of hot, windy and rainy weather on Wednesday, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning of extremely high fire danger in several regions and persistently high temperatures in parts of Limpopo.
While most of the country can expect fine and warm to hot conditions, the Western Cape is forecast to receive scattered showers and rain in the south-west. Isolated showers and rain are also possible in parts of the Eastern Cape.
What to expect on Wednesday
SAWS released its regional forecast on Tuesday, where it broke down the weather forecast.
Heatwave conditions
SAWS has issued an advisory for a heatwave, with persistently high temperatures expected in places over the Western Bushveld of Limpopo until October 23.
The province is forecast to be fine and warm to hot, becoming very hot in places over the Western Bushveld. Morning cloud and fog patches are expected over the south-central parts.
Gauteng will be fine and warm, although it will be hot in the extreme north. Mpumalanga is also expected to be fine and warm, with hot conditions in places in the Lowveld. Morning cloud and fog patches are forecast along the eastern escarpment.
Extremely high fire danger in several regions
SAWS has warned of extremely high fire danger conditions in places over:
- The Central Karoo in the Western Cape.
- Most parts of North West.
- Southern parts of the Northern Cape.
- The Mafube Local Municipality in the Free State.
- Places in southern Limpopo.
- North-western Mpumalanga.
Residents in these areas are urged to remain alert to the elevated fire danger.
Rain expected in the Western Cape
The Western Cape will be partly cloudy over the north-east and otherwise cloudy and cool to warm.
SAWS forecasts scattered showers and rain over the south-western parts of the province, with isolated showers possible over the adjacent interior and along the south coast.
Winds along the coast will be moderate to fresh north-westerly, moderating in the south-west. Elsewhere, fresh to strong westerly to south-westerly winds are expected.
Windy and warm conditions inland
On the topic of wind, the Northern Cape will be fine, windy and cool to warm, becoming partly cloudy in the south and west, with cloudy conditions in the south-west.
North West and the Free State are forecast to be fine, windy and warm to hot.
The Eastern Cape will be partly cloudy and cool to warm in the western half, and partly cloudy and warm in the eastern half. Isolated showers and rain are possible in the south-western parts of both regions.
Fresh to strong south-westerly winds are expected along the coast.
Hot weather in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is forecast to be partly cloudy, with morning fog patches over the northern interior. Otherwise, conditions will be fine and warm to hot, becoming very hot in places over the north-eastern parts.
Moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly winds are expected along the coast.
SAWS forecasts an extreme UVB sunburn index for KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
The UVB sunburn index is also forecast to be high in Gauteng and moderate in the Western Cape.
Residents should take precautions when spending time outdoors, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the extreme UV index indicates a heightened risk of sunburn.
Warnings and advisories
Extremely high fire danger: Conditions are expected in the specified parts of the Western Cape, North West, Northern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga on Wednesday.
Heatwave advisory: Persistently high temperatures are expected in places over the Western Bushveld of Limpopo until October 23.
Impact-based warnings: SAWS reported no impact-based warnings in its forecast.
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