A heat wave is expected in the Western Bushveld of Limpopo, and fire danger is extremely high over most of North West, the southern Northern Cape and the Central Karoo, with a veld fire warning for Rustenburg, De Aar and Beaufort West from 07:00 to 18:59. Richards Bay is the hottest at 36°C, while Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Paarl have a 60% chance of slight rain and the rest of the country stays largely dry.
Weather warnings for Wednesday 21 October
SAWS has 2 weather warnings in force for Wednesday, the highest warning level 10 for veld fire conditions. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.
Red level 10Veld Fire ConditionsWhereBeaufort West, Laingsburg, De Aar, Schweizer-Reneke + 20 moreWhenWed 07:00 to 18:59
Veld Fire Conditions
Where
Beaufort West, Laingsburg, De Aar, Schweizer-Reneke + 20 more
When
Wed 07:00 to 18:59
Areas: Beaufort West, Laingsburg, De Aar, Schweizer-Reneke, Rustenburg, Lichtenburg, Frankfort, Pilanesberg, Victoria West, Koster, Tosca, Zeerust, Ottosdal, Noupoort, Ventersdorp, Wolmaranstad, Vryburg, Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, VanWyksvlei, Hoedspruit, Bela-Bela, Nokaneng, Fetakgomo/Greater Tubatse – Burgersfort / Tubatse/.
- Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.
What to do: All personnel and equipment should be removed from the field. Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time. All available aircraft are to be called for without delay.
Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWhereMokopane, Mogoto, Thabazimbi, Dendron + 22 moreWhenvalid until 23:59 on 21 October
Weather Advisory
Where
Mokopane, Mogoto, Thabazimbi, Dendron + 22 more
When
valid until 23:59 on 21 October
Areas: Mokopane, Mogoto, Thabazimbi, Dendron, Thohoyandou, Ba-Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Hoedspruit, Tshilamba, Bela-Bela, Nokaneng, Apel, Jane Furse, Musina, Fetakgomo/Greater Tubatse – Burgersfort / Tubatse/, Groblersdal, Giyani, Makhado, Polokwane, Alldays, Mookgopong, Lephalale, Moletji, Mooketsi, Vaalwater, Marble Hall.
- When the temperature is extremely high, humans’ ability to cool their bodies through sweating is reduced. This can be a real threat that may lead to hyperthermia. In an extremely hot environment, the most serious health and safety concern is heat stroke. Heat stroke can be fatal if medical attention is not available immediately.
What to do: Avoid prolonged direct exposure to the sun as far as possible and drink plenty of water. Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Never leave kids in the car unattended. Make sure your animals have access to enough water. Check on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and young children.
SAWS advisoryFire Danger WarningsWhat1 item, tap to read
Fire Danger Warnings
What
1 item, tap to read
- Extremely high fire danger conditions are expectedin places over the Central Karoo of the Western Cape, most parts of the North-West, southern parts of the Northern Cape, the Mafube local municipality of the Free State, as well as in places over southern Limpopo, and north-western Mpumalanga.
SAWS advisoryAdvisoriesWhat1 item, tap to read
Advisories
What
1 item, tap to read
- A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places over the Western Bushveld of Limpopo until Friday (23/10/2026).
Moon tonight
Waxing Gibbous
78% litThe moon tonight is a waxing gibbous, about 78% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.
Weather today by province, Wednesday 21 October
View Weather Forecast for TomorrowView the weather tomorrow on the 7-Day Weather Forecast
Each province lists its main towns with today’s sky, low and high, rain chance and wind; every province starts closed, tap one to open it. Tide times are inside Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Today Johannesburg peaks at 28°C.
Gauteng
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingA dry day, with Pretoria the warmest at 31°C under partly cloudy skies after 12°C at dawn. Johannesburg, Soweto and Vereeniging reach 28°C under mostly clear skies from cold starts of 6°C to 7°C.Johannesburg today
Gauteng
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Gauteng
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 7° | 28° | 0% | ||
| Pretoria | 12° | 31° | 0% | ||
| Soweto | 6° | 28° | 0% | ||
| Vereeniging | 7° | 28° | 0% |
Western Cape
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesExpect slight rain in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Paarl, a 60% chance, with highs of 19°C to 21°C. George has a 30% chance and 23°C. Beaufort West and Laingsburg face a veld fire warning from 07:00 to 18:59.Cape Town today
Western Cape
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Western Cape
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | 14° | 19° | 60% | ||
| Stellenbosch | 10° | 20° | 60% | ||
| Paarl | 11° | 21° | 60% | ||
| George | 12° | 23° | 30% |
Tides: Cape Town
| Day | Low tide | High tide |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | 05:54, 18:35 | 12:14 |
Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 30°C and Polokwane reaches 28°C.
Mpumalanga
Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloFog in Mbombela gives way to 30°C, while eMalahleni reaches 31°C and Ermelo 26°C after a chilly 4°C start. Fire danger is extremely high in the north-west, with no rain.Mbombela today
Mpumalanga
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Mpumalanga
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mbombela | 18° | 30° | 0% | ||
| eMalahleni | 6° | 31° | 0% | ||
| Ermelo | 4° | 26° | 0% |
Limpopo
Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaA weather advisory covers Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Thohoyandou and Ba-Phalaborwa until 23:59, with a heat wave in the Western Bushveld until Friday. Musina reaches 35°C, Thohoyandou 34°C and Polokwane 28°C under cloud.Polokwane today
Limpopo
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Limpopo
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polokwane | 18° | 28° | 0% | ||
| Tzaneen | 18° | 30° | 0% | ||
| Thohoyandou | 19° | 34° | 0% | ||
| Musina | 21° | 35° | 0% |
North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 32°C and Bloemfontein reaches 25°C.
North West
Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpA veld fire warning covers Rustenburg, Lichtenburg and Schweizer-Reneke from 07:00 to 18:59. Rustenburg reaches 33°C, Mahikeng 32°C, Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp 30°C, all dry and mostly clear.Mahikeng today
North West
Tap for cities and townsTap to close North West
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahikeng | 12° | 32° | 0% | ||
| Rustenburg | 13° | 33° | 0% | ||
| Potchefstroom | 9° | 30° | 0% | ||
| Klerksdorp | 9° | 30° | 0% |
Free State
Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadDry and mostly clear, with Kroonstad at 29°C, Bethlehem 26°C and Bloemfontein 25°C after cool starts of 6°C to 9°C. Fire danger is extremely high in Mafube.Bloemfontein today
Free State
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Free State
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloemfontein | 7° | 25° | 0% | ||
| Bethlehem | 6° | 26° | 0% | ||
| Kroonstad | 9° | 29° | 0% |
Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 28°C, Gqeberha reaches 23°C and Durban reaches 26°C.
Northern Cape
Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesDe Aar is under a veld fire warning from 07:00 to 18:59 and reaches 25°C. Upington is the warmest at 31°C, Kimberley 28°C and Springbok 21°C under high cloud, with no rain.Kimberley today
Northern Cape
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Northern Cape
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley | 9° | 28° | 0% | ||
| Upington | 12° | 31° | 0% | ||
| Springbok | 10° | 21° | 0% | ||
| De Aar | 10° | 25° | 0% |
Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)
| Day | Low tide | High tide |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | 05:17, 18:00 | 11:37 |
Eastern Cape
Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesA dry day, with Mthatha the warmest at 28°C after a 7°C start. East London and Queenstown reach 25°C and Gqeberha 23°C under cloud.Gqeberha today
Eastern Cape
Tap for cities and townsTap to close Eastern Cape
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gqeberha | 13° | 23° | 0% | ||
| East London | 13° | 25° | 0% | ||
| Mthatha | 7° | 28° | 0% | ||
| Queenstown | 9° | 25° | 0% |
Tides: Gqeberha
| Day | Low tide | High tide |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | 06:29, 19:13 | 00:22, 12:48 |
Tides: East London
| Day | Low tide | High tide |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | 06:34, 19:15 | 00:32, 12:57 |
KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesNo rain is expected, with Richards Bay topping the country at 36°C, Newcastle 31°C, Pietermaritzburg 29°C and Durban 26°C after a mild 17°C start.Durban today
KwaZulu-Natal
Tap for cities and townsTap to close KwaZulu-Natal
Towns today
| Town | Weather | Lo | Hi | Rain | Wind km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durban | 17° | 26° | 0% | ||
| Pietermaritzburg | 10° | 29° | 0% | ||
| Richards Bay | 18° | 36° | 0% | ||
| Newcastle | 10° | 31° | 0% |
Tides: Durban
| Day | Low tide | High tide |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | 06:36, 19:20 | 00:35, 13:01 |
View Weather Forecast for TomorrowView the weather tomorrow on the 7-Day Weather Forecast
Forecast data: the South African Weather Service and other third-party sources and providers, brought together with the latest AI tools. We take great care to get every figure right, but mistakes are possible.