SA 'close to heatwave'

2007-02-08 14:48

Johannesburg - South Africa is not experiencing a heatwave, the South African Weather Service said on Thursday.

"It is close to a heatwave, but the temperature will be cooling down rapidly tomorrow," said spokesperson Garth Sampson.

Sampson said a heatwave was measured in the smallest province of the country, which would be Gauteng.

There, the temperature of all the weather stations would need to be five degrees higher for three consecutive days than the highest average maximum temperature.

"It would need to be 33 degrees at all stations for three consecutive days."

However, he said the temperature in some areas of the country would reach 40 degrees and above on Thursday.

These areas were Graaff-Reinet and Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape, Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape and Upington in the Northern Cape.

"It's normally hot this time of year. January and February are the hottest months," said Sampson.

Cold weather hits the Cape

The weather service issued a warning on its website on Wednesday that heavy rainfalls, gale force winds and very cold conditions were expected in the Cape from Thursday.

It said the cold front would hit the Cape by Thursday night.

Wet and cold to very cold conditions were expected over the Cape south-western part on Saturday morning with gale force westerly to north-westerly winds, associated with very rough seas along Cape south-west coast.

There was also a possibility of heavy rains in places over the Cape Peninsula, Boland and Overberg between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

- SAPA