On 27 October 2015, temperatures in Vredendal, Western Cape, soared to 48.4°C, marking one of the hottest days in South Africa’s recorded history.
Setting a new maximum temperature record for the town.
According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), it was also the highest temperature recorded anywhere in the world during October 2015.
A day of extraordinary heat
Vredendal is no stranger to hot weather, but the temperatures recorded that Tuesday were far beyond what residents would normally expect in October.
The town’s previous October temperature record stood at 42.5°C, set in 1999.
The 2015 reading exceeded that record by almost 6°C.
Several other weather stations across the Western Cape and Northern Cape also recorded unusually high temperatures that day.
These included Paarl, Wellington, Clanwilliam and Calvinia.
What caused the extreme heat?
Berg winds can cause temperatures to rise sharply in parts of South Africa.
These hot, dry winds blow from the country’s interior towards the coast.
As the air moves downhill, increasing atmospheric pressure compresses and warms it.
This can push temperatures much higher than usual, particularly when the air is already hot and dry.
South Africa was already battling a drought
The record-breaking October heat came during one of South Africa’s most difficult drought periods.
SAWS later confirmed that 2015 was the country’s driest year on record since 1904.
The drought, together with repeated periods of extreme heat, placed enormous pressure on water supplies, agriculture and communities.
Nearly 11 years later, Vredendal’s extraordinary October temperature remains a reminder of just how intense heat can become in South Africa.