Heatwave advisory for Eastern Cape as Saws issues Thursday forecast
The weather service has issued a heatwave advisory for part of the Eastern Cape and a fire danger warning for the Northern and Western Cape on Thursday.
The South African Weather Service (Saws) has cautioned that hot spells will linger in part of the Eastern Cape, while the risk of veld fires is severe in sections of two other provinces. The Citizen reported on the latest Saws forecast, which covers Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Warnings and advisories
Saws has flagged an extreme danger of veld fires in the Kamiesberg local municipality in the Northern Cape and in the Matzikama local municipality in the Western Cape.
For the Eastern Cape, the weather service has issued a heatwave advisory covering the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality. Temperatures there are expected to stay high until Saturday.
Across the rest of the country, the day is expected to be fine and warm to hot, although some eastern areas may see a few isolated showers.
Province-by-province outlook for Thursday
- Gauteng: Fine and warm. The UVB sunburn index is expected to be “high”.
- Mpumalanga: Drizzle is possible along the escarpment in the morning under cloud, then fine and cool to warm.
- Limpopo: A cloudy start with morning drizzle on the escarpment, followed by a fine, warm to hot day.
- North West: Hot and fine.
- Free State: Patches of fog in the east early on, then a warm to hot day that turns partly cloudy in the afternoon.
- Northern Cape: Fine and warm to hot, with some areas getting very hot.
- Western Cape: Partly cloudy along the southern coast and fine elsewhere. The UVB sunburn index is expected to be “very high”.
- Eastern Cape (western half): Fog in some southern areas at the start, then fine and warm to hot, with cooler conditions along parts of the coast.
- Eastern Cape (eastern half): Fog across most areas early on, then fine and warm, with some cooler spots.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog over the western interior, then partly cloudy and cool to warm. Isolated showers and rain are expected in the north, and the UVB sunburn index is “high”.
What this means for you
If you live in Gauteng, the Western Cape or KwaZulu-Natal, the forecast notes high to very high UV levels. Saws advises residents to take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
People in the Inxuba Yethemba area of the Eastern Cape should expect the hot spell to continue until Saturday. Those in the Kamiesberg and Matzikama areas should be aware that conditions are extremely dangerous for veld fires on Thursday.
Forecasts can change, so check the latest updates from Saws if you plan to travel or work outdoors.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
