Category: Cold spells affecting South Africa

Cold spell occuring from November 15 2025 to November 18 2025 at -23.5°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 4 days

Time span: November 15 2025 to November 18 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 18.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -9.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 13.1 °C

Event center: -23.5°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 289929 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Nov-15_to_2025-Nov-18_27.0_-23.5

Cold spell occuring from October 20 2025 to October 24 2025 at -19.0°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 5 days

Time span: October 20 2025 to October 24 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 12.9 °C

Event center: -19.0°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 484379 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Oct-20_to_2025-Oct-24_27.0_-19.0

Cold spell occuring from July 08 2025 to September 05 2025 at -7.5°S 17.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Congo
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 60 days

Time span: July 08 2025 to September 05 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -2.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -9.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 5.0 °C

Event center: -7.5°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 8144949 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Jul-08_to_2025-Sep-05_17.0_-7.5

Cold spell occuring from June 08 2025 to June 15 2025 at -20.5°S 20.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 8 days

Time span: June 08 2025 to June 15 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 10.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.1 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 4.6 °C

Event center: -20.5°S 20.0°E

Area affected: 614289 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Jun-08_to_2025-Jun-15_20.0_-20.5

Cold spell occuring from May 21 2025 to May 27 2025 at -24.5°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 7 days

Time span: May 21 2025 to May 27 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 12.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.1 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 8.9 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 488517 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-May-21_to_2025-May-27_27.0_-24.5

Cold spell occuring from April 30 2025 to May 14 2025 at -19.5°S 17.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 15 days

Time span: April 30 2025 to May 14 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 16.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 3.1 °C

Event center: -19.5°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 4054624 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Apr-30_to_2025-May-14_17.0_-19.5

Cold spell occuring from April 24 2025 to April 27 2025 at -24.0°S 21.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: April 24 2025 to April 27 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 16.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 14.8 °C

Event center: -24.0°S 21.0°E

Area affected: 64867 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Apr-24_to_2025-Apr-27_21.0_-24.0

Cold spell occuring from April 17 2025 to April 21 2025 at -18.5°S 26.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 5 days

Time span: April 17 2025 to April 21 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 18.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 13.7 °C

Event center: -18.5°S 26.0°E

Area affected: 541543 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Apr-17_to_2025-Apr-21_26.0_-18.5

Cold spell occuring from March 16 2025 to March 21 2025 at -22.5°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 6 days

Time span: March 16 2025 to March 21 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -4.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 16.4 °C

Event center: -22.5°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 149596 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Mar-16_to_2025-Mar-21_27.0_-22.5

Cold spell occuring from February 10 2025 to February 21 2025 at -24.5°S 24.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

Countries affected (identified with ArcGIS Online; provided only for geographical reference):

  • Botswana
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 12 days

Time span: February 10 2025 to February 21 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 15.1 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 24.0°E

Area affected: 649816 km$^2$


Fig. 1: Map of most extreme temperature anomalies (standardized) experienced during the event. The purple star indicates the center of the extreme event. Green hatching illustrates all areas under the effect of extremes at some time during the event.



Fig. 2: Evolution of temperature at the center of the event. The climatological percentile distribution is illustrated with color shadings.



Fig. 3: Maps illustrating the evolution of standardized temperature anomalies during the event.

Event ID: Cold_spell_2025-Feb-10_to_2025-Feb-21_24.0_-24.5