Gauteng residents should brace themselves for hot weather conditions this coming weekend.
After a relatively cool and wet summer so far, several provinces are expected to experience a heatwave, with only a slight chance of rain.
This will be the first time this summer that the northern parts of the country experience consecutive days of temperatures reaching the 30s.
Gauteng to experience hot weather
On Thursday, conditions in Johannesburg will remain cool to warm, with temperatures expected to peak at 24°C and a 30% chance of rain. Pretoria, meanwhile, will see overcast conditions throughout the day, with a maximum temperature of 26°C.
By Friday, temperatures are set to diverge across the province, with Johannesburg reaching a high of 20°C, while Pretoria is expected to warm up significantly to around 32°C.
Heading into the weekend, most parts of Gauteng will experience hot and dry weather conditions, with no rainfall expected until Sunday afternoon. The South African Weather Service has forecast a 30% chance of afternoon showers in Johannesburg towards the end of the weekend.
Here’s the World Health Organisation‘s tips on how to stay cool during hot temperatures:
Keep your body cool and hydrated.
Keep your home cool.
Protect infants and children.
Stay out of the heat. Avoid going outside during the hottest time of the year.
Stay in the shade. Remember that reported temperatures are measured in the shade, and it can be 10-15˚C hotter in the sun.
Avoid strenuous physical activity if you can. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which can be in the morning between 04:00 and 07:00.
Do not leave children or animals in parked vehicles.
Regularly check in with vulnerable people in your circle – especially people over 65 years old and those with heart, lung, or kidney conditions, a disability, and living alone.
For next weekend, the weather will remain relatively the same with a small chance of rain expected in Gauteng.
