Heatwave and fire danger warnings for Northern and Western Cape
The weather service expects temperatures of up to 40°C in parts of two provinces on Monday, with a serious risk of veld fires in several districts.
Parts of the Northern Cape and Western Cape will swelter on Monday, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecasting temperatures between 36°C and 40°C. SAnews reported that the heat is expected in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and in the Western Cape interior.
SAWS describes the conditions there as very hot to extremely hot and uncomfortable.
Fire danger in several areas
Alongside the heat, the weather service has flagged an extreme risk of fires in a number of places. These include:
- the Kamiesberg municipality and central parts of the Northern Cape
- parts of the West Coast and Cape Winelands districts
- the Laingsburg and Swellendam municipalities in the Western Cape
What is driving the weather
According to SAWS, a ridge at the surface will affect much of the eastern part of the country on Monday. A trough is expected over the central and western interior, while a high-pressure system sits over the east.
For the eastern regions, Monday is forecast to be cloudy and cool. From Tuesday until at least Thursday, the weather there should be fine, ranging from warm to hot. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are then expected to return over the eastern interior from Friday and into the weekend.
What this means for you
If you live or work in the affected areas, Monday’s heat and fire risk could change how you go about your day. SAWS urges members of the public and stakeholders to check its official forecasts and warnings regularly, as the warnings will be updated when the expected impacts become clearer.
The weather service also cautions people to be wary of information from unauthorised or unverified sources, and not to share it. Updates are available on the SAWS website or its official media channels.
This story is based on reporting by SAnews.
