Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Cold spell occuring from December 15 2021 to January 03 2022 at -34.5°S 23.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 20 days

Time span: December 15 2021 to January 03 2022

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -9.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 3.9 °C

Event center: -34.5°S 23.5°E

Area affected: 6195691 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_2021-Dec-15_to_2022-Jan-03_23.5_-34.5

Cold spell occuring from December 04 2021 to December 06 2021 at -28.5°S 20.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: December 04 2021 to December 06 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 12.8 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 20.0°E

Area affected: 364293 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_2021-Dec-04_to_2021-Dec-06_20.0_-28.5

Cold spell occuring from November 23 2021 to November 28 2021 at -25.0°S 30.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: November 23 2021 to November 28 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 15.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -6.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 6.3 °C

Event center: -25.0°S 30.0°E

Area affected: 278852 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_2021-Nov-23_to_2021-Nov-28_30.0_-25.0

Heat wave occuring from November 16 2021 to November 19 2021 at -18.0°S 37.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 4 days

Time span: November 16 2021 to November 19 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 35.2 °C

Event center: -18.0°S 37.0°E

Area affected: 640910 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_2021-Nov-16_to_2021-Nov-19_37.0_-18.0

Heat wave occuring from November 13 2021 to November 18 2021 at -26.0°S 26.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: November 13 2021 to November 18 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 25.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.1 °C

Event center: -26.0°S 26.0°E

Area affected: 143392 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_2021-Nov-13_to_2021-Nov-18_26.0_-26.0

Cold spell occuring from October 22 2021 to October 25 2021 at -30.0°S 23.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: October 22 2021 to October 25 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -6.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 14.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 10.4 °C

Event center: -30.0°S 23.0°E

Area affected: 85923 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_2021-Oct-22_to_2021-Oct-25_23.0_-30.0

Cold spell occuring from October 17 2021 to October 24 2021 at -27.5°S 35.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 8 days

Time span: October 17 2021 to October 24 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -11.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 8.9 °C

Event center: -27.5°S 35.0°E

Area affected: 2453450 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_2021-Oct-17_to_2021-Oct-24_35.0_-27.5

Cold spell occuring from October 16 2021 to October 18 2021 at -28.5°S 24.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: October 16 2021 to October 18 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -6.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 13.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 7.2 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 24.0°E

Area affected: 125730 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_2021-Oct-16_to_2021-Oct-18_24.0_-28.5

Cold spell occuring from October 16 2021 to October 18 2021 at -25.0°S 17.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: October 16 2021 to October 18 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -6.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 14.7 °C

Event center: -25.0°S 17.5°E

Area affected: 168286 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_2021-Oct-16_to_2021-Oct-18_17.5_-25.0

Cold spell occuring from October 15 2021 to October 17 2021 at -27.0°S 17.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: October 15 2021 to October 17 2021

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -7.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 12.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -9.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 8.4 °C

Event center: -27.0°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 93877 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_2021-Oct-15_to_2021-Oct-17_17.0_-27.0