Category: Heat waves affecting South Africa

8 heat waves identified in South Africa since 2020

Heat wave occuring from March 28 2011 to April 02 2011 at -30.5°S 30.5°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: March 28 2011 to April 02 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 5.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.4 °C

Event center: -30.5°S 30.5°E

Area affected: 140530 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-Mar-28_to_2011-Apr-02_30.5_-30.5

Heat wave occuring from March 27 2011 to March 31 2011 at -28.5°S 20.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Namibia
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: March 27 2011 to March 31 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 27.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.6 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 20.5°E

Area affected: 281534 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-Mar-27_to_2011-Mar-31_20.5_-28.5

Heat wave occuring from March 18 2011 to March 31 2011 at -20.5°S 33.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 14 days

Time span: March 18 2011 to March 31 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.4 °C
  • Mean temperature: 27.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.4 °C

Event center: -20.5°S 33.5°E

Area affected: 1295719 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-Mar-18_to_2011-Mar-31_33.5_-20.5

Heat wave occuring from March 09 2011 to March 18 2011 at -25.5°S 28.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Eswatini
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 10 days

Time span: March 09 2011 to March 18 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 3.0 °C
  • Mean temperature: 26.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 6.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.0 °C

Event center: -25.5°S 28.0°E

Area affected: 336188 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-Mar-09_to_2011-Mar-18_28.0_-25.5

Heat wave occuring from January 03 2011 to January 11 2011 at -32.0°S 17.5°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: January 03 2011 to January 11 2011

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.7 °C
  • Mean temperature: 25.9 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 10.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 33.5 °C

Event center: -32.0°S 17.5°E

Area affected: 144503 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-Jan-03_to_2011-Jan-11_17.5_-32.0

Heat wave occuring from November 14 2010 to November 18 2010 at -27.5°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: 5 days

Time span: November 14 2010 to November 18 2010

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 6.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 27.1 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 9.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 31.1 °C

Event center: -27.5°S 16.0°E

Area affected: 100103 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_2010-Nov-14_to_2010-Nov-18_16.0_-27.5

Heat wave occuring from November 02 2010 to November 06 2010 at -28.5°S 34.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Mozambique
  • South Africa

Duration: 5 days

Time span: November 02 2010 to November 06 2010

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 2.8 °C
  • Mean temperature: 24.6 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.4 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.1 °C

Event center: -28.5°S 34.0°E

Area affected: 200664 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_2010-Nov-02_to_2010-Nov-06_34.0_-28.5

Heat wave occuring from October 09 2010 to October 16 2010 at -18.0°S 32.0°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Duration: 8 days

Time span: October 09 2010 to October 16 2010

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 4.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 28.7 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 8.5 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 32.2 °C

Event center: -18.0°S 32.0°E

Area affected: 362653 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_2010-Oct-09_to_2010-Oct-16_32.0_-18.0

Heat wave occuring from September 28 2010 to October 10 2010 at -20.0°S 15.5°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

Duration: 13 days

Time span: September 28 2010 to October 10 2010

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 5.3 °C
  • Mean temperature: 26.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 10.0 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 30.9 °C

Event center: -20.0°S 15.5°E

Area affected: 1072343 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_2010-Sep-28_to_2010-Oct-10_15.5_-20.0

Heat wave occuring from September 13 2010 to September 15 2010 at -32.0°S 27.5°E

Download data: JSON

Event type: Heat wave

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

  • South Africa

Duration: 3 days

Time span: September 13 2010 to September 15 2010

Statistics over entire affected area:

  • Mean temperature anomaly: 7.2 °C
  • Mean temperature: 21.2 °C
  • Maximum temperature anomaly: 11.3 °C
  • Maximum temperature: 26.6 °C

Event center: -32.0°S 27.5°E

Area affected: 52752 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_2010-Sep-13_to_2010-Sep-15_27.5_-32.0