Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Heat wave occuring from February 02 2023 to February 16 2023 at -34.5°S 37.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 15 days

Time span: February 02 2023 to February 16 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 27.4 °C

Event center: -34.5°S 37.5°E

Area affected: 1695904 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-Feb-02_to_2023-Feb-16_37.5_-34.5

Cold spell occuring from January 30 2023 to February 04 2023 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
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: January 30 2023 to February 04 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -2.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 19.7 °C

Event center: -23.5°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 62028 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-Jan-30_to_2023-Feb-04_27.0_-23.5

Heat wave occuring from January 15 2023 to January 21 2023 at -35.0°S 21.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 7 days

Time span: January 15 2023 to January 21 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 1.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 3.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 24.3 °C

Event center: -35.0°S 21.5°E

Area affected: 70646 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-Jan-15_to_2023-Jan-21_21.5_-35.0

Cold spell occuring from January 06 2023 to January 09 2023 at -24.5°S 34.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: January 06 2023 to January 09 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 19.5 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 34.5°E

Area affected: 103861 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-Jan-06_to_2023-Jan-09_34.5_-24.5

Heat wave occuring from January 06 2023 to February 02 2023 at -44.5°S 30.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • French Southern Territories
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 28 days

Time span: January 06 2023 to February 02 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 36.1 °C

Event center: -44.5°S 30.0°E

Area affected: 13158331 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-Jan-06_to_2023-Feb-02_30.0_-44.5

Cold spell occuring from January 04 2023 to January 08 2023 at -30.5°S 27.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Lesotho
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: January 04 2023 to January 08 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 15.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -10.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 7.7 °C

Event center: -30.5°S 27.5°E

Area affected: 286719 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-Jan-04_to_2023-Jan-08_27.5_-30.5

Cold spell occuring from December 29 2022 to January 03 2023 at -26.5°S 27.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: December 29 2022 to January 03 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.6 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 12.9 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 27.5°E

Area affected: 420333 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_2022-Dec-29_to_2023-Jan-03_27.5_-26.5

Cold spell occuring from December 29 2022 to January 13 2023 at -33.0°S 17.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 16 days

Time span: December 29 2022 to January 13 2023

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -1.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 16.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -3.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 14.4 °C

Event center: -33.0°S 17.5°E

Area affected: 75682 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_2022-Dec-29_to_2023-Jan-13_17.5_-33.0

Cold spell occuring from December 02 2022 to December 07 2022 at -31.5°S 18.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: December 02 2022 to December 07 2022

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 16.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -6.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 13.3 °C

Event center: -31.5°S 18.5°E

Area affected: 56007 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_2022-Dec-02_to_2022-Dec-07_18.5_-31.5

Heat wave occuring from November 27 2022 to December 04 2022 at -42.5°S 49.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa

Duration: 8 days

Time span: November 27 2022 to December 04 2022

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.6 °C

Event center: -42.5°S 49.5°E

Area affected: 2004041 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_2022-Nov-27_to_2022-Dec-04_49.5_-42.5