Category: Heat waves affecting South Africa

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

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

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

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

Heat wave occuring from November 01 2024 to November 06 2024 at -26.5°S 29.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 6 days

Time span: November 01 2024 to November 06 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.8 °C

Event center: -26.5°S 29.0°E

Area affected: 612660 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-Nov-01_to_2024-Nov-06_29.0_-26.5

Heat wave occuring from September 21 2024 to October 01 2024 at -17.5°S 27.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 11 days

Time span: September 21 2024 to October 01 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 29.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.9 °C

Event center: -17.5°S 27.0°E

Area affected: 1470916 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-Sep-21_to_2024-Oct-01_27.0_-17.5

Heat wave occuring from August 24 2024 to September 06 2024 at -12.5°S 14.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Angola
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 14 days

Time span: August 24 2024 to September 06 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 20.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 12.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.5 °C

Event center: -12.5°S 14.5°E

Area affected: 1309808 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-Aug-24_to_2024-Sep-06_14.5_-12.5

Heat wave occuring from August 16 2024 to August 21 2024 at -30.0°S 33.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 6 days

Time span: August 16 2024 to August 21 2024

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 22.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 3.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 23.5 °C

Event center: -30.0°S 33.5°E

Area affected: 89029 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-Aug-16_to_2024-Aug-21_33.5_-30.0