Category: Heat waves affecting South Africa

8 heat waves identified in South Africa since 2020

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

Heat wave occuring from February 21 2012 to February 23 2012 at -22.0°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 3 days

Time span: February 21 2012 to February 23 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 31.7 °C

Event center: -22.0°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 108326 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-Feb-21_to_2012-Feb-23_27.0_-22.0

Heat wave occuring from January 26 2012 to January 30 2012 at -36.0°S 21.0°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: January 26 2012 to January 30 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 1.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 2.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 23.4 °C

Event center: -36.0°S 21.0°E

Area affected: 63220 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-Jan-26_to_2012-Jan-30_21.0_-36.0

Heat wave occuring from January 05 2012 to January 30 2012 at -32.5°S 17.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 26 days

Time span: January 05 2012 to January 30 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.6 °C

Event center: -32.5°S 17.0°E

Area affected: 3414659 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-Jan-05_to_2012-Jan-30_17.0_-32.5

Heat wave occuring from January 01 2012 to January 12 2012 at -23.5°S 18.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 12 days

Time span: January 01 2012 to January 12 2012

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.6 °C
  • Mean temperature: 31.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 35.1 °C

Event center: -23.5°S 18.5°E

Area affected: 455991 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-Jan-01_to_2012-Jan-12_18.5_-23.5

Heat wave occuring from November 17 2011 to November 21 2011 at -19.5°S 29.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 5 days

Time span: November 17 2011 to November 21 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.5 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.7 °C

Event center: -19.5°S 29.0°E

Area affected: 153232 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_2011-Nov-17_to_2011-Nov-21_29.0_-19.5

Heat wave occuring from November 08 2011 to November 22 2011 at -21.0°S 25.5°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
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 15 days

Time span: November 08 2011 to November 22 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 34.8 °C

Event center: -21.0°S 25.5°E

Area affected: 1191487 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_2011-Nov-08_to_2011-Nov-22_25.5_-21.0

Heat wave occuring from October 20 2011 to November 04 2011 at -10.5°S 36.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

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

Duration: 16 days

Time span: October 20 2011 to November 04 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 36.5 °C

Event center: -10.5°S 36.5°E

Area affected: 2367975 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_2011-Oct-20_to_2011-Nov-04_36.5_-10.5

Heat wave occuring from October 06 2011 to October 13 2011 at -28.5°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: 8 days

Time span: October 06 2011 to October 13 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 7.1 °C
  • Mean temperature: 25.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 10.8 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 28.7 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 18.5°E

Area affected: 197396 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_2011-Oct-06_to_2011-Oct-13_18.5_-28.5