Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Heat wave occuring from August 27 2023 to August 31 2023 at -39.0°S 25.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: August 27 2023 to August 31 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.6 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 24.8 °C

Event center: -39.0°S 25.5°E

Area affected: 729705 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: Heat_wave_2023-Aug-27_to_2023-Aug-31_25.5_-39.0

Heat wave occuring from August 13 2023 to August 17 2023 at -26.5°S 25.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: August 13 2023 to August 17 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 22.4 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 25.0°E

Area affected: 70537 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: Heat_wave_2023-Aug-13_to_2023-Aug-17_25.0_-26.5

Heat wave occuring from August 03 2023 to August 13 2023 at -30.5°S 21.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 11 days

Time span: August 03 2023 to August 13 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 18.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 23.8 °C

Event center: -30.5°S 21.0°E

Area affected: 362596 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: Heat_wave_2023-Aug-03_to_2023-Aug-13_21.0_-30.5

Cold spell occuring from August 02 2023 to August 06 2023 at -24.5°S 28.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: August 02 2023 to August 06 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 11.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -4.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 9.0 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 28.5°E

Area affected: 107500 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_2023-Aug-02_to_2023-Aug-06_28.5_-24.5

Heat wave occuring from August 01 2023 to August 12 2023 at -41.0°S 23.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 12 days

Time span: August 01 2023 to August 12 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.6 °C
  • Mean temperature: 18.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 22.2 °C

Event center: -41.0°S 23.0°E

Area affected: 610234 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: Heat_wave_2023-Aug-01_to_2023-Aug-12_23.0_-41.0

Cold spell occuring from July 27 2023 to August 04 2023 at -19.5°S 15.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 9 days

Time span: July 27 2023 to August 04 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 9.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -10.1 °C
  • Minimum temperature: -1.9 °C

Event center: -19.5°S 15.5°E

Area affected: 1261029 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_2023-Jul-27_to_2023-Aug-04_15.5_-19.5

Cold spell occuring from July 22 2023 to August 01 2023 at -27.0°S 15.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 11 days

Time span: July 22 2023 to August 01 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -1.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 13.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 5.3 °C

Event center: -27.0°S 15.0°E

Area affected: 843322 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_2023-Jul-22_to_2023-Aug-01_15.0_-27.0

Heat wave occuring from July 20 2023 to August 08 2023 at -13.0°S 14.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 20 days

Time span: July 20 2023 to August 08 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 25.1 °C

Event center: -13.0°S 14.5°E

Area affected: 1340695 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: Heat_wave_2023-Jul-20_to_2023-Aug-08_14.5_-13.0

Cold spell occuring from July 10 2023 to July 15 2023 at -26.0°S 32.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 6 days

Time span: July 10 2023 to July 15 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -2.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 14.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -6.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 1.8 °C

Event center: -26.0°S 32.5°E

Area affected: 386367 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_2023-Jul-10_to_2023-Jul-15_32.5_-26.0

Cold spell occuring from July 09 2023 to July 11 2023 at -30.0°S 28.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Lesotho
  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: July 09 2023 to July 11 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 3.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature: -1.9 °C

Event center: -30.0°S 28.0°E

Area affected: 76627 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_2023-Jul-09_to_2023-Jul-11_28.0_-30.0