Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Heat wave occuring from May 17 2025 to May 21 2025 at -22.0°S 35.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 5 days

Time span: May 17 2025 to May 21 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 27.9 °C

Event center: -22.0°S 35.0°E

Area affected: 236131 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_2025-May-17_to_2025-May-21_35.0_-22.0

Heat wave occuring from May 15 2025 to May 19 2025 at -33.0°S 22.5°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: May 15 2025 to May 19 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 24.0 °C

Event center: -33.0°S 22.5°E

Area affected: 51934 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_2025-May-15_to_2025-May-19_22.5_-33.0

Heat wave occuring from May 06 2025 to May 20 2025 at -12.5°S 13.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 15 days

Time span: May 06 2025 to May 20 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 11.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 31.1 °C

Event center: -12.5°S 13.5°E

Area affected: 2492357 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_2025-May-06_to_2025-May-20_13.5_-12.5

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

Heat wave occuring from April 03 2025 to April 12 2025 at -36.5°S 14.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 10 days

Time span: April 03 2025 to April 12 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.4 °C

Event center: -36.5°S 14.0°E

Area affected: 790796 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_2025-Apr-03_to_2025-Apr-12_14.0_-36.5

Heat wave occuring from March 17 2025 to March 31 2025 at -29.5°S 14.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Lesotho
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 15 days

Time span: March 17 2025 to March 31 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.0 °C

Event center: -29.5°S 14.0°E

Area affected: 1831045 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_2025-Mar-17_to_2025-Mar-31_14.0_-29.5

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

Heat wave occuring from February 21 2025 to February 26 2025 at -29.0°S 28.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Lesotho
  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: February 21 2025 to February 26 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 4.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 25.7 °C

Event center: -29.0°S 28.0°E

Area affected: 67791 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_2025-Feb-21_to_2025-Feb-26_28.0_-29.0