Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Heat wave occuring from April 18 2020 to April 23 2020 at -28.0°S 21.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: April 18 2020 to April 23 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.8 °C

Event center: -28.0°S 21.5°E

Area affected: 328294 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_2020-Apr-18_to_2020-Apr-23_21.5_-28.0

Cold spell occuring from April 02 2020 to April 04 2020 at -27.0°S 27.0°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: April 02 2020 to April 04 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 14.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 11.7 °C

Event center: -27.0°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 66566 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_2020-Apr-02_to_2020-Apr-04_27.0_-27.0

Heat wave occuring from March 22 2020 to March 25 2020 at -26.5°S 18.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: March 22 2020 to March 25 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.4 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 18.5°E

Area affected: 79910 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_2020-Mar-22_to_2020-Mar-25_18.5_-26.5

Heat wave occuring from March 03 2020 to March 08 2020 at -32.5°S 22.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: March 03 2020 to March 08 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.5 °C

Event center: -32.5°S 22.5°E

Area affected: 197708 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_2020-Mar-03_to_2020-Mar-08_22.5_-32.5

Cold spell occuring from February 26 2020 to March 10 2020 at -26.5°S 48.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

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

Duration: 14 days

Time span: February 26 2020 to March 10 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 8.7 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 48.0°E

Area affected: 4574420 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_2020-Feb-26_to_2020-Mar-10_48.0_-26.5

Cold spell occuring from February 24 2020 to February 27 2020 at -23.5°S 19.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: February 24 2020 to February 27 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.6 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 20.6 °C

Event center: -23.5°S 19.5°E

Area affected: 50433 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_2020-Feb-24_to_2020-Feb-27_19.5_-23.5

Cold spell occuring from February 23 2020 to February 26 2020 at -23.0°S 29.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 4 days

Time span: February 23 2020 to February 26 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.9 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 15.6 °C

Event center: -23.0°S 29.0°E

Area affected: 345263 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_2020-Feb-23_to_2020-Feb-26_29.0_-23.0

Cold spell occuring from February 09 2020 to February 13 2020 at -23.0°S 29.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 5 days

Time span: February 09 2020 to February 13 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.2 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -6.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 15.7 °C

Event center: -23.0°S 29.5°E

Area affected: 224906 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_2020-Feb-09_to_2020-Feb-13_29.5_-23.0

Cold spell occuring from January 20 2020 to January 22 2020 at -18.5°S 31.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 3 days

Time span: January 20 2020 to January 22 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -4.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 15.9 °C

Event center: -18.5°S 31.5°E

Area affected: 215694 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_2020-Jan-20_to_2020-Jan-22_31.5_-18.5

Cold spell occuring from January 18 2020 to January 23 2020 at -32.5°S 21.5°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: January 18 2020 to January 23 2020

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -8.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 12.5 °C

Event center: -32.5°S 21.5°E

Area affected: 145076 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_2020-Jan-18_to_2020-Jan-23_21.5_-32.5