Residents in parts of Limpopo could get some relief from the recent heat this weekend as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) heatwave advisory reaches its final scheduled day on Friday, 23 October.
SAWS has warned of persistently high temperatures in places over the province’s Western Bushveld, but weekend forecasts suggest temperatures could drop in some areas on Saturday before rising again on Sunday.
Which areas are affected by the Limpopo heatwave?
The heatwave advisory covers parts of the Western Bushveld, including Lephalale, Thabazimbi, Bela-Bela, Mokopane, Mookgopong and Vaalwater.
Other areas listed in the heat-related advisory include Alldays and Moletji.
SAWS expects partly cloudy and hot to very hot conditions across Limpopo on Friday, with isolated light showers and rain possible along the escarpment.
The advisory remains valid until 23:59 on Friday.
Will temperatures drop this weekend?
Forecasts suggest some parts of Limpopo will experience cooler conditions on Saturday, 24 October.
In Polokwane, temperatures could fall to around 26°C on Saturday after reaching approximately 28°C on Friday.
However, the relief may be brief, with temperatures expected to climb to around 30°C on Sunday.
Residents should therefore not expect the same drop in temperatures everywhere.
Does this mean the heatwave is over?
The current SAWS advisory runs until Friday, but that does not automatically mean hot weather will disappear over the weekend.
Even after an advisory expires, some areas can continue experiencing high temperatures.
Residents should monitor the latest SAWS updates to see whether the advisory ends as scheduled or whether the weather service extends it.