Category: Extremes affecting South Africa

Cold spell occuring from February 10 2025 to February 21 2025 at -24.5°S 24.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Botswana
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 12 days

Time span: February 10 2025 to February 21 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -7.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 15.1 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 24.0°E

Area affected: 649816 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-Feb-10_to_2025-Feb-21_24.0_-24.5

Heat wave occuring from February 09 2025 to February 17 2025 at -25.5°S 16.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 9 days

Time span: February 09 2025 to February 17 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.3 °C

Event center: -25.5°S 16.0°E

Area affected: 113671 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-09_to_2025-Feb-17_16.0_-25.5

Cold spell occuring from February 06 2025 to February 23 2025 at -29.0°S 16.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Cold spell

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 18 days

Time span: February 06 2025 to February 23 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -1.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 17.3 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -4.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 14.0 °C

Event center: -29.0°S 16.5°E

Area affected: 294257 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-Feb-06_to_2025-Feb-23_16.5_-29.0

Heat wave occuring from January 24 2025 to February 10 2025 at -26.0°S 33.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 18 days

Time span: January 24 2025 to February 10 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 1.6 °C
  • Mean temperature: 27.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 2.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.7 °C

Event center: -26.0°S 33.0°E

Area affected: 338824 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-Jan-24_to_2025-Feb-10_33.0_-26.0

Heat wave occuring from January 21 2025 to January 30 2025 at -33.0°S 17.0°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: January 21 2025 to January 30 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.9 °C

Event center: -33.0°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 478459 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-Jan-21_to_2025-Jan-30_17.0_-33.0

Heat wave occuring from January 18 2025 to February 11 2025 at -28.0°S 26.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 25 days

Time span: January 18 2025 to February 11 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 34.7 °C

Event center: -28.0°S 26.0°E

Area affected: 963026 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-Jan-18_to_2025-Feb-11_26.0_-28.0

Cold spell occuring from January 13 2025 to January 18 2025 at -21.0°S 26.5°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: January 13 2025 to January 18 2025

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -4.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.1 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -6.8 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 18.1 °C

Event center: -21.0°S 26.5°E

Area affected: 132035 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-Jan-13_to_2025-Jan-18_26.5_-21.0

Heat wave occuring from December 25 2024 to December 31 2024 at -34.0°S 26.0°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: December 25 2024 to December 31 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.5 °C

Event center: -34.0°S 26.0°E

Area affected: 253059 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_2024-Dec-25_to_2024-Dec-31_26.0_-34.0

Cold spell occuring from December 19 2024 to December 24 2024 at -24.0°S 25.5°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: December 19 2024 to December 24 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.5 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -5.0 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 20.7 °C

Event center: -24.0°S 25.5°E

Area affected: 76207 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_2024-Dec-19_to_2024-Dec-24_25.5_-24.0

Cold spell occuring from November 04 2024 to November 07 2024 at -32.0°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: 4 days

Time span: November 04 2024 to November 07 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: -5.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 12.4 °C
  • Minimum temperature anomaly: -11.7 °C
  • Minimum temperature: 5.0 °C

Event center: -32.0°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 175422 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_2024-Nov-04_to_2024-Nov-07_27.0_-32.0