Extremely high fire danger conditions expected in parts of Western Cape

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an alert for extremely high fire danger conditions over the Nama Khoi, Kamiesberg, southern Namakwa, Dawid Kruiper, Kai !Garib, !Kheis, Siyathemba, Kareeberg, Ubuntu as well as Emthanjeni local municipalities of the Northern Cape, the Central Karoo and Kannaland local municipalities of the Western Cape, in places over Sarah Baartman DM, Inxuba Yethemba, Raymond Mhlaba, Enoch Mgijima and Emalahleni local municipalities of the Eastern Cape, on Wednesday.

“Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life,” warned the weather service.

Wednesday’s weather forecast

Gauteng: Fine and warm weather. The expected UVB sunburn index: very high.

Mpumalanga: Fine and cool to warm weather, but partly cloudy in the east where it will be hot.

Limpopo: Fine and warm weather but partly cloudy in the east.

North West: Fine and warm weather.

Free State: Fine and warm weather.

WATCH: Eastern Cape weather – Village hit by landslide and floods

Northern Cape: Cloudy with fog along the coast, otherwise fine, windy and warm to hot, but partly cloudy over the western parts. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south to south-easterly.

Western Cape: Cloudy along the south and south-west coast with fog patches in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot, but cool along the south-west coast. It will be windy over the central and eastern interior in the afternoon.

The wind along the coast will be light easterly along the south coast at first, otherwise moderate south-easterly in the morning becoming moderate westerly to northwesterly in the afternoon. The expected UVB sunburn index: high.

Western half of the Eastern Cape: Morning fog south of Darlington Dam, clearing after sunrise, with warm to hot temperatures. It will become partly cloudy in the evening. The wind along the coast will be Moderate to fresh northerly to north easterly.

ALSO READ: As weather catastrophes become more common being underinsured can be devastating

Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and warm to hot weather, with morning fog near the coast west of the Kei River Mouth. The wind along the coast will be Moderate northerly to north easterly.

KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog over the north-eastern parts, otherwise fine and warm but hot in places in the east. The wind along the coast will be Moderate to fresh northerly to north-easterly. The expected UVB sunburn index: extreme.