Category: Heat waves affecting South Africa

8 heat waves identified in South Africa since 2020

Heat wave occuring from December 27 2012 to January 17 2013 at -24.5°S 46.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Eswatini
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 22 days

Time span: December 27 2012 to January 17 2013

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.8 °C

Event center: -24.5°S 46.0°E

Area affected: 1077470 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_2012-Dec-27_to_2013-Jan-17_46.0_-24.5

Heat wave occuring from December 27 2012 to December 31 2012 at -29.0°S 29.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: December 27 2012 to December 31 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 27.0 °C

Event center: -29.0°S 29.0°E

Area affected: 122535 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_2012-Dec-27_to_2012-Dec-31_29.0_-29.0

Heat wave occuring from December 22 2012 to February 04 2013 at -3.0°S 40.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Congo
  • Congo DRC
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Iran
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
  • Zambia

Duration: 45 days

Time span: December 22 2012 to February 04 2013

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 26.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 10.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 34.8 °C

Event center: -3.0°S 40.5°E

Area affected: 9385085 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_2012-Dec-22_to_2013-Feb-04_40.5_-3.0

Heat wave occuring from January 08 2013 to January 10 2013 at -27.5°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: 3 days

Time span: January 08 2013 to January 10 2013

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 23.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.7 °C

Event center: -27.5°S 28.0°E

Area affected: 68761 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_2013-Jan-08_to_2013-Jan-10_28.0_-27.5

Heat wave occuring from December 09 2012 to December 29 2012 at -37.5°S 18.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 21 days

Time span: December 09 2012 to December 29 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 10.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 31.7 °C

Event center: -37.5°S 18.0°E

Area affected: 3744994 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_2012-Dec-09_to_2012-Dec-29_18.0_-37.5

Heat wave occuring from November 10 2012 to November 25 2012 at -9.0°S 10.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Congo
  • Congo DRC
  • Lesotho
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 16 days

Time span: November 10 2012 to November 25 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 26.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.2 °C

Event center: -9.0°S 10.5°E

Area affected: 1836608 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_2012-Nov-10_to_2012-Nov-25_10.5_-9.0

Heat wave occuring from October 29 2012 to November 02 2012 at -29.5°S 16.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: October 29 2012 to November 02 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 1.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 18.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.1 °C

Event center: -29.5°S 16.5°E

Area affected: 436116 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_2012-Oct-29_to_2012-Nov-02_16.5_-29.5

Heat wave occuring from October 02 2012 to October 12 2012 at -21.5°S 19.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 11 days

Time span: October 02 2012 to October 12 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 27.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 31.0 °C

Event center: -21.5°S 19.0°E

Area affected: 409837 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_2012-Oct-02_to_2012-Oct-12_19.0_-21.5

Heat wave occuring from August 29 2012 to September 01 2012 at -26.0°S 31.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Eswatini
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: August 29 2012 to September 01 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.5 °C

Event center: -26.0°S 31.5°E

Area affected: 80198 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_2012-Aug-29_to_2012-Sep-01_31.5_-26.0

Heat wave occuring from August 28 2012 to August 31 2012 at -28.5°S 24.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 4 days

Time span: August 28 2012 to August 31 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 24.6 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 24.0°E

Area affected: 237628 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_2012-Aug-28_to_2012-Aug-31_24.0_-28.5