Weather update: High fire danger and heatwave conditions expected on Thursday

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of extremely high fire danger conditions over the western and central interior of the Northern Cape, western parts of the Free State and North West and parts of the Western Cape on Thursday.

Fine and hot conditions are expected along the east coast, while drizzle is expected along the escarpment of Mpumalanga in the morning.

Heatwave conditions are expected to continue in Gauteng and the eastern parts of North West until Friday.

Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi has urged residents to take precautions.

“It’s extremely hot in most parts of the City of Johannesburg. Residents are urged to stay hydrated, drink lots of water and stay away from direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm in the afternoon.

“Those who are working directly in the sunlight are urged to take regular breaks and the elderly who are on medication to stay in cool areas because exposure to this extremely hot temperatures can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke,“ Mulaudzi said.

Thursday’s weather forecast

1. Gauteng:

• The day will start partly cloudy but is expected to be fine and hot.
• The UVB sunburn index is categorised as “Extreme.”

2. Mpumalanga:

• The day will be partly cloudy with morning fog patches in the east, but otherwise, it will be fine and warm.

3. Limpopo:

• The eastern part may experience morning cloudiness but will be fine and hot, with very hot conditions in the extreme south-west.

4. North-West Province:

• Expect fine and hot weather.

5. Free State:

• It will be a fine and hot day.

6. Northern Cape:

• Extremely hot conditions are anticipated in the northern part, while the rest of the province will be fine, windy, and hot.
• Coastal areas will experience moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly winds, which may become strong in the afternoon.

7. Western Cape:

• Coastal areas may be cloudy to partly cloudy and cool in the morning. Inland regions will be mostly fine, warm to hot with high-level cloud cover.
• Coastal winds are expected to be moderate to fresh southerly along the west and south-west coast in the morning, becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly to westerly.

ALSO READ: Heatwave Alert: persistently high temperatures expected in Gauteng on Wednesday

8. Western Half of the Eastern Cape:

• Fine and hot conditions, although some coastal areas will be warm.
• The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh south-westerly.

9. Eastern Half of the Eastern Cape:

• Partly cloudy and fog patches in the south of the escarpment, otherwise, it will be fine and warm, with hot temperatures in some areas.
• Coastal winds will be fresh north-easterly, becoming south-westerly in the evening.

10. KwaZulu-Natal:

• Partly cloudy with morning fog over the interior, but will become fine and warm.
• The UVB sunburn index is categorised as “Extreme.”

Additional reporting by Faizel Patel