What you need to do now: stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest hours, limit strenuous outdoor activity, check on elderly family and neighbours, and follow local fire-safety guidance where alerts are in place. If you live in the western Bushveld of Limpopo, plan for several days of very high daytime temperatures through Friday.
Overview
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says a heatwave will continue over parts of Limpopo while the Western Cape and sections of the Eastern Cape can expect scattered showers and rain on Wednesday. SAWS also highlighted areas with elevated fire danger across several provinces.
Who will be affected
SAWS expects persistently high temperatures in places over the western Bushveld of Limpopo until Friday. Elsewhere, most provinces will experience a mix of fine, warm weather and local variations such as morning fog along escarpments and cooler, cloudier conditions along southern and eastern coasts.
- Limpopo: Very hot conditions in the western Bushveld — take measures to reduce heat exposure.
- Western Cape: Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers along the south-western areas and the south coast.
- Eastern Cape: Scattered rain possible in parts; coastal areas are cooler and cloudier.
- Fire danger: Elevated fire risk reported across parts of the Central Karoo, North-West, Southern Northern Cape, Mafube in the Free State, southern Limpopo and north-western Mpumalanga.
Temperatures — selected centres (Wednesday)
Daytime ranges are shown in degrees Celsius; nights are generally cooler.
| Province / City | Min — Max (°C) |
|---|---|
| Pretoria (Gauteng) | 12°C—31°C |
| Johannesburg (Gauteng) | 7°C—28°C |
| Skukuza (Mpumalanga) | 20°C—37°C |
| Polokwane (Limpopo) | 18°C—28°C |
| Musina (Limpopo) | 21°C—35°C |
| Lephalale (Limpopo) | 14°C—38°C |
| Cape Town (Western Cape) | 14°C—19°C |
| George (Western Cape) | 14°C—23°C |
Regional details
Gauteng is expected to be fine and warm, becoming hot in the extreme northern parts. In Mpumalanga, the escarpment may see morning fog patches but otherwise it will be fine and warm with hot spells on the Lowveld.
Limpopo will be cloudy in places in the morning with fog in south-central areas, followed by warm to hot conditions; the western Bushveld will be very hot. The North West and Free State provinces will be generally fine, windy and warm to hot.
The Northern Cape will be mostly fine and cool to warm, becoming partly cloudy in southern and western areas; coastal wind along Alexander Bay and other sections will be moderate north-westerly. In the Western Cape, conditions will be cloudier and cooler along the south and east coasts with scattered showers focused on south-western parts.
Safety and practical advice
- Drink water regularly and avoid alcohol or heavy meals during the hottest part of the day.
- Seek shade between 11:00 and 15:00 when solar intensity is strongest; wear a hat and sunscreen (UVB index in some areas is expected to be high).
- Limit vigorous outdoor work; if unavoidable, take frequent rest breaks and work during cooler morning or late-afternoon hours.
- Observe any local fire-safety restrictions — do not burn garden waste or leave campfires unattended in areas with high fire danger.
- If you have respiratory or cardiac conditions, be cautious when exposed to smoke from veld fires or prolonged heat.
Keep an eye on updates from the South African Weather Service for any changes to warnings or advisories. Local authorities will issue additional guidance where fire danger or severe weather develops.
Note: The forecasts above reflect SAWS guidance for Wednesday and short-term conditions; expect local variability and brief showers in coastal and south-eastern districts.
