Hotter than normal conditions forecast for Mzansi
Temperatures rising does not only usher in Summer, but also the extremely hot conditions that come with this season.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a heatwave warning in the coming days.
In the advisory for Wednesday to Friday, November 22-24, with temperatures set to reach over 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the country.
The country can expect warmer than normal conditions, with a high chance of the occurrence of heat waves over the interior during the summer season of 2023-2024. Weather experts say this is caused by the El Niño during the summer season of 2023-2024
“Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures exceeding average maxima is expected central and eastern parts of Free State, the North-West Province, the north-eastern parts of Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the western parts of the midlands of KZN up to at least Friday,” the SAWS said.
“Temperature wise, the likelihood for warmer than normal conditions is high, with the highest chance over the interior regions of South Africa. From this prediction, it can be inferred that there is a high chance of the occurrence of heat waves over the interior,” South African Weather Service (SAWS) Lead Scientist: Long Range Prediction, Dr Christien Engelbrecht added.
El Niño phenomenon explained
El Niño events are typically warmer and drier over southern Africa during the summer months. However, current seasonal predictions indicate uncertainty for the typical drier conditions over the north-eastern parts of the country where the current prediction indicates low probabilities for above-normal rainfall.
The SAWS says severe thunderstorm experienced recently in parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga was not an unusual event that can only be attributed to climate change.
The thunderstorm on Monday, November 12, unleashed a hailstorm in Gauteng and a tornado in the Lekwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.
In the Joburg metro, Midrand was the hardest-hit, with damages that included shattered windshields of motor vehicles and broken windows of residences.
“Over the remaining parts of the country below-normal rainfall is predicted. Current predictions of the El Niño event indicate that it can become a strong event during the mid-summer months,” Engelbrecht said.