HEAT-INDUCED thunderstorms expected on Wednesday in parts of SA Photos: Stock/Canva
WORST of the heatwave expected TODAY in parts of South Africa
Be warned! The WORST part of the heatwave is expected TODAY. The hot and humid weather will lead to extremely uncomfortable conditions.
HEAT-INDUCED thunderstorms expected on Wednesday in parts of SA Photos: Stock/Canva
The WORST part of the heatwave is expected TODAY.
BRACE YOURSELF- THE WORST PART OF HEATWAVE TO HIT TODAY
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned that hot and humid weather would lead to extremely uncomfortable conditions.
“Keep out of the heat if possible. Stay in the shade, especially between 11:00 and 15:00. Wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes. Avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Stay hydrated (with water).”
SAWS
Meanwhile, VoxWeather warned that heat-induced thunderstorms are expected in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumulanga.
“Only by Friday is the forecast picking up isolated t-storms possible over Gauteng; nothing significant and will only settle the dust in some areas.”
It furthermore said a weak cold front making landfall on Thursday in the Western Cape would bring in some light rain.
HEATWAVE EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL FRIDAY
Meanwhile, said the current heatwave is expected to last until Friday.
The following areas are affected by the heatwave:
- Gauteng
- Free State
- North West
- Eastern parts of North-West,
- Eastern Highveld of Mpumalanga
- South-western bushveld of Limpopo
It furthermore said a spell of dry, cloud-free weather over the past few days has allowed maximum levels of sunshine (insolation) to arrive over the interior of the country, with temperatures becoming incrementally higher every day.
“In addition, a very large upper-air high-pressure system (or anticyclone) has dominated the weather pattern over the southern African subcontinent in the past week, extending over much of Namibia, Botswana and the northern half of South Africa.
“Apart from this feature blocking the arrival of tropically sourced moisture (and thus delaying the onset of our summer rains), upper-air highs are well-known to be associated with large-scale air stability and sinking air masses.
“Such systems inhibit thunderstorm development, but perhaps more importantly, in this case, the sinking air heats up quite dramatically.”
SAWS
‘KEEP OUT OF THE HEAT IF POSSIBLE AND STAY HYDRATED’
“Keep out of the heat if possible. Stay in the shade, especially between 11:00 am and 15:00 pm. Wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes. Avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Stay hydrated (with water).”
SAWS
The potential impact of the heatwave includes:
- Heat stroke.
- Heat cramps.
- Heat exhaustion due to prolonged exposure or physical activities.
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HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO STAY COOL:
- Stay hydrated – When you’re hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down.
- Take a cold shower or bath– Taking a cold shower or bath helps cool your body by lowering your core temperature.
- Use cold washrags on your neck or wrists – Place a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you’ll cool down more quickly.
- Close your curtains or blinds – If you have windows that face the sun’s direction in the morning through afternoon, close the curtains or blinds over them to keep the sun from coming directly into the house and heating the inside.
- Enjoy frozen treats – Eating an ice pop or ice cream to cool down may help for a moment. But don’t go overboard on the sugar if you’re overheated or at risk of being overheated.
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