The SA weather service says that most parts of the country will experience a heatwave until Monday only to be lashed by severe rain with thunderstorms immediately from Tuesday until Friday.
The provinces that are experiencing heatwaves are Limpopo, Free State, North West, and Gauteng as well as the northeastern parts of KZN and the Eastern Cape.
SA weather service said that when the high pressure system moves to the surface, it increases temperatures that produce a heatwave.
The heatwave lasts, “at least three days when the maximum temperature is expected to be at least 5°C higher than the average maximum temperature for the hottest month of the year in a given region,” said the weather service.
People are advised to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and stay indoors if possible. In Tshwane, temperatures hit 40°C on Saturday.
However, the rain that will fall soon is expected to cool the area.
Weather forecaster Tokello Chiloane said that after the heatwaves severe thunder showers can be expected.
“From Tuesday to Friday, [the provinces above] will be getting 30% to 60% of showers and thundershowers.
“These thundershowers are expected to be severe hence we will be issuing a relevant warning as the week goes by,” she said.
While the mercury keeps rising, resulting in people needing water to hydrate, the minister of water and sanitation Pemmy Majodina said that the ongoing challenges of water in the City of Joburg are caused by exceedingly high-water consumption, leaks as well as high non-revenue water.
“Gauteng is over-consuming water as against the internationally accepted standard which is 173 per capita per day. Gauteng goes up to 278 but not all that water goes to your beneficiaries, it’s water that gets lost which is non-revenue water,” she said while meeting with the city’s officials, including mayor Dada Morero on Saturday.
Majodina was in the city to check the progress of the Brixton reservoir.
She said the water challenges were also worsened by the city’s ongoing population growth.
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