Cape Town - The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of extremely uncomfortable conditions and a heatwave over parts the Western Cape in Bergrivier municipality, the Cape Metropole, Breede Valley and Langeberg municipalities as well as over the Little Karoo today.
Highs of 40°C were expected in some areas.
There is no running away from the hot temperatures and humidity this February, with temperatures looking to be even warmer than last year.
Saws senior forecaster Henning Grobler previously said the warmer weather was normal for this time of the year, as the region’s summers were well known for periodic heatwaves and extremely hot and uncomfortable weather.
Cape Town Weather Office forecaster Surprise Mhlongo explained that a heatwave like the one being experienced was constituted by three consecutive days or more with a maximum temperature reaching or exceeding 5°C greater than the average maximum temperature of the hottest month for the particular station in the region.
Mhlongo said people could prepare for it by staying hydrated and away from direct sunlight.
However, it should be significantly cooler from tomorrow when Cape Town will experience a minimum temperature of 19°C, a maximum temperature of 25°C and then gradually cool down further this week with minimum temperatures of 18°C expected until Friday and maximum temperatures of 23°C, 25°C and 26°C expected on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Extremely high risk fire conditions were expected over the Beaufort West municipality tomorrow.
“Even though last year by this time of the month we had experienced slightly cooler temperatures in Cape Town compared to now, there is no significant difference between maximum temperatures now compared to the same time last year,” Mhlongo said.
kristin.engel@inl.co.za