Category: Heat waves affecting South Africa

8 heat waves identified in South Africa since 2020

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

Heat wave occuring from August 19 2012 to August 28 2012 at -25.5°S 26.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

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

Duration: 10 days

Time span: August 19 2012 to August 28 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 27.9 °C

Event center: -25.5°S 26.0°E

Area affected: 1421536 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-19_to_2012-Aug-28_26.0_-25.5

Heat wave occuring from June 29 2012 to July 09 2012 at -26.0°S 26.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 11 days

Time span: June 29 2012 to July 09 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 16.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 21.6 °C

Event center: -26.0°S 26.5°E

Area affected: 861674 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-Jun-29_to_2012-Jul-09_26.5_-26.0

Heat wave occuring from June 17 2012 to July 02 2012 at -10.5°S 17.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Congo DRC
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 16 days

Time span: June 17 2012 to July 02 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 27.5 °C

Event center: -10.5°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 3115542 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-Jun-17_to_2012-Jul-02_17.0_-10.5

Heat wave occuring from May 07 2012 to May 13 2012 at -29.5°S 20.5°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: May 07 2012 to May 13 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 19.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 7.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 23.5 °C

Event center: -29.5°S 20.5°E

Area affected: 103375 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-May-07_to_2012-May-13_20.5_-29.5

Heat wave occuring from April 27 2012 to May 13 2012 at -26.5°S 27.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

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

Duration: 17 days

Time span: April 27 2012 to May 13 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.9 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.3 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 27.5°E

Area affected: 1206881 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-Apr-27_to_2012-May-13_27.5_-26.5

Heat wave occuring from March 19 2012 to March 29 2012 at -34.5°S 22.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 11 days

Time span: March 19 2012 to March 29 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 1.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 3.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 21.9 °C

Event center: -34.5°S 22.0°E

Area affected: 376248 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-Mar-19_to_2012-Mar-29_22.0_-34.5

Heat wave occuring from March 08 2012 to March 16 2012 at -34.5°S 24.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 9 days

Time span: March 08 2012 to March 16 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.7 °C

Event center: -34.5°S 24.0°E

Area affected: 627518 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-Mar-08_to_2012-Mar-16_24.0_-34.5