WEATHER TODAY: Richards Bay hits 39°C as heat wave holds Eastern Cape and KZN

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Weather advisories are in place from 12:00 to 22:59 for Nelspruit, Ermelo and Barberton, from 08:00 to 17:59 for Beaufort West and Oudtshoorn, and for Queenstown and Matatiele, while a Level 10 warning for veld fire conditions covers Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and Pofadder. Upington reaches 37°C and Pietermaritzburg and Mthatha 36°C, and the only rain chance, 30%, comes with thunderstorms over Gauteng, eMalahleni, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom and Newcastle.

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Weather warnings for Friday 16 October

SAWS has 4 weather warnings in force for Friday, the highest warning level 10 for veld fire conditions. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.

Red level 10Veld Fire ConditionsWhereLady Frere, Somerset East, Graaff – Reinet, Cradock + 27 moreWhenFri 08:00 to 18:59Areas: Lady Frere, Somerset East, Graaff – Reinet, Cradock, Pofadder, Prince Albert, Calvinia, Beaufort West, Ladismith, Oudtshoorn, Laingsburg, De Aar, Griquastad, Aliwal North, Groblershoop, Prieska, Augrabies Falls, Warrenton, Hopetown, Fauresmith, Kimberley, Victoria West, Daniëlskuil, Upington, Petrusville, Noupoort, Barkly West, Koffiefontein, Twee Rivieren, Jan Kempdorp and 1 more.

• Damage to property/settlements, loss of grazing land and possible loss of animal and/or human life.

What to do: Public is advised not to start any fires under these conditions. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWhereMatatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown + 15 moreWhenvalid until 23:59 on 17 OctoberAreas: Matatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown, Grahamstown, Libode, Lady Frere, Tsolo, Elliot, Lusikisiki, Tarkastad, Stutterheim, Cofimvaba, Ntabankulu, Dutywa, Maclear, Bizana, Ngcobo, Cradock.

• High discomfort
• Heat exhaustion
• Dehydration.
• Heat related illnesses

What to do: Drink lots of liquids and stay in shaded/cool areas with lots of ventilation. Avoid strenuous activities. Avoid exposure during the hottest time of the day. Do not keep elderly and children inside the cars. Seek help if you feel dizzy, weak, having intense thirst and headaches.Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWherePrince Albert, Beaufort West, Ladismith, OudtshoornWhenFri 08:00 to 17:59Areas: Prince Albert, Beaufort West, Ladismith, Oudtshoorn.

• When the temperature is extremely high, humans’ ability to cool their bodies through sweating is reduced. This can be a real threat that may lead to hyperthermia.
• In an extremely hot environment, the most serious health and safety concern is heat stroke. Heat stroke can be fatal if medical attention is not available immediately.

What to do: Avoid prolonged direct exposure to the sun as far as possible and drink plenty of water. Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Never leave kids in the car unattended. Make sure your animals have access to enough water. Check on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and young children.Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWhereStanderton, Skukuza, Piet Retief, Barberton + 8 moreWhenFri 12:00 to 22:59Areas: Standerton, Skukuza, Piet Retief, Barberton, Nelspruit, Ermelo, Amersfoort, Witbank, Secunda, Carolina, Middelburg, Machadodorp.

• Persistently high temperatures affect the humans ability to cool their bodies through sweating. This can be a real threat that leads to heat related illness such as hyperthermia, heat stroke and respiratory conditions.
• In an extremely hot environment, the serious health and safety concern is heat stroke.

What to do: – stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities during the hottest time of the day, wear appropriate clothing, and keep an eye on vulnerable Individuals.SAWS advisoryImpact-Based WarningsWhat1 item, tap to read

• SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS:.

SAWS advisoryFire Danger WarningsWhat1 item, tap to read

• Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over most parts of the Northern Cape, eastern parts of the Western Cape, in places over the western and central parts of the Eastern Cape, western parts of the Free State, in places over the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, south-eastern parts of Mpumalanga as well as the northern and western parts of Limpopo.

SAWS advisoryAdvisoriesWhat3 items, tap to read

• A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places over the Chris Hani, O.R Tambo and Alfred Nzo District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape until Saturday, and in places over the northern parts of KwaZulu Natal until Sunday, as well as in places over Mpumalanga, except along the Escarpment until Monday.
• Very hot to extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions are expected in places over the Central and Little Karoo District Municipalities in the Western Cape, as well as the eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
• Extremely uncomfortable and humid conditions are expected in places south of the Escarpment in the Eastern Cape.

Moon tonightWaxing Crescent32% lit

The moon tonight is a waxing crescent, about 32% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.

Weather today by province, Friday 16 October

View 7-Day Weather Forecast

Each province lists its main towns with today’s sky, low and high, rain chance and wind; every province starts closed, tap one to open it. Tide times are inside Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Today Johannesburg peaks at 30°C.

Gauteng

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingThunderstorms carry a 30% chance of rain, with Pretoria going from 18°C to 31°C, Johannesburg from 14°C to 30°C, and Soweto and Vereeniging reaching 31°C.Johannesburg todayThunderstorms30°14°30%N 5 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close GautengTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hJohannesburgThunderstorms14°30°30%N 5PretoriaThunderstorms18°31°30%NE 5SowetoThunderstorms13°31°30%N 5VereenigingThunderstorms14°31°30%N 5

Western Cape

Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesPrince Albert, Beaufort West, Ladismith and Oudtshoorn have a weather advisory from 08:00 to 17:59. Cape Town stays dry at 20°C, Paarl reaches 27°C and George 26°C.Cape Town todayHigh cloud20°14°0%N 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Western CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hCape TownHigh cloud14°20°0%N 10StellenboschHigh cloud9°25°0%WNW 15PaarlHigh cloud12°27°0%WNW 10GeorgeHigh cloud12°26°0%S 5Tides: Cape TownDayLow tideHigh tideFri 16 Oct11:5506:02, 18:05

Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 32°C and Polokwane reaches 31°C.

Mpumalanga

Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloA weather advisory runs from 12:00 to 22:59 for Nelspruit, Barberton, Skukuza, Ermelo, Piet Retief and Standerton. Mbombela stays clear at 32°C, Ermelo reaches 31°C and eMalahleni sees a 30% storm chance.Mbombela todayClear32°17°0%NE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close MpumalangaTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMbombelaClear17°32°0%NE 10eMalahleniThunderstorms15°30°30%N 5ErmeloPartly cloudy11°31°0%NW 5

Limpopo

Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaClear skies and dry heat everywhere, with Musina the hottest at 36°C after a 20°C start, Thohoyandou at 34°C, Tzaneen at 32°C and Polokwane at 31°C.Polokwane todayClear31°16°0%ENE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close LimpopoTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hPolokwaneClear16°31°0%ENE 10TzaneenClear14°32°0%ENE 10ThohoyandouClear17°34°0%E 10MusinaClear20°36°0%E 15

North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 34°C and Bloemfontein reaches 32°C.

North West

Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpRustenburg and Potchefstroom have a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers with highs of 33°C, while Mahikeng stays dry at 34°C and Klerksdorp is mostly clear at 33°C.Mahikeng todayPartly cloudy34°15°0%NE 5 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close North WestTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMahikengPartly cloudy15°34°0%NE 5RustenburgRain, storms16°33°30%NE 5PotchefstroomRain, storms13°33°30%NNW 5KlerksdorpMostly clear13°33°0%NNW 5

Free State

Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadA dry day, with Kroonstad the warmest at 34°C, Bloemfontein rising from 11°C to 32°C and Bethlehem climbing from a cool 9°C to 31°C.Bloemfontein todayMostly clear32°11°0%WNW 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Free StateTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hBloemfonteinMostly clear11°32°0%WNW 10BethlehemPartly cloudy9°31°0%NNE 5KroonstadMostly clear16°34°0%NNE 5

Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 35°C, Gqeberha reaches 27°C and Durban reaches 31°C.

Northern Cape

Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesUpington tops out at 37°C and Kimberley at 35°C under mostly clear skies, with Springbok and De Aar on 33°C. Pofadder is under the veld fire warning from 08:00 to 18:59.Kimberley todayMostly clear35°17°0%WNW 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Northern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hKimberleyMostly clear17°35°0%WNW 10UpingtonMostly clear16°37°0%NW 15SpringbokClear17°33°0%NW 10De AarPartly cloudy15°33°0%NW 15Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)DayLow tideHigh tideFri 16 Oct11:1705:30, 17:35

Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesMthatha heats up to 36°C and Queenstown to 33°C, with a weather advisory in force all day for Queenstown, Matatiele, Mount Ayliff and Libode. Gqeberha and East London reach 27°C.Gqeberha todayHigh cloud27°14°0%SE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Eastern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hGqeberhaHigh cloud14°27°0%SE 10East LondonHigh cloud17°27°0%E 10MthathaCloudy17°36°0%SW 5QueenstownHigh cloud15°33°0%W 15Tides: GqeberhaDayLow tideHigh tideFri 16 Oct12:0006:07, 18:11Tides: East LondonDayLow tideHigh tideFri 16 Oct12:0106:01, 18:03

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesRichards Bay is set for 39°C and Pietermaritzburg for 36°C, with Durban clear at 31°C after a 21°C start. Newcastle reaches 35°C with a 30% chance of thundershowers.Durban todayClear31°21°0%ENE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close KwaZulu-NatalTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hDurbanClear21°31°0%ENE 10PietermaritzburgMostly clear17°36°0%E 5Richards BayClear20°39°0%NE 10NewcastleRain, storms15°35°30%NE 5Tides: DurbanDayLow tideHigh tideFri 16 Oct11:5805:59, 18:06

View the 7-Day Weather Forecast

Forecast data: the South African Weather Service and other third-party sources and providers, brought together with the latest AI tools. We take great care to get every figure right, but mistakes are possible.

More weather news, warnings and forecasts are on The South African’s weather page.

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