The coastal province of KZN has seen temperatures peak past 36°C.
|||All indications to the contrary, KwaZulu-Natal is not experiencing a heatwave but rather the effects of a high pressure system making its way towards the coast from the west, the weather service said on Wednesday.
Durban forecaster Mdu-duzi Mthembu said KZN could expect another sweltering day today before enjoying a short-lived respite beginning on Friday. The temperature is expected to peak in the mid-30s around the province on Thursday, with Pietermaritzburg reaching 36°C, Richards Bay 35°C and Durban 33°C.
“The high pressure system descending from the escarpment became warmer as it came towards the KZN coastline. The temperatures should cool by the weekend, with heavy rain expected.”
Cloudy conditions, with a 60 percent chance of showers and thundershowers, are expected tomorrow and on Saturday. Partly cloudy conditions with a 30 percent chance of rain are predicted for Sunday before clear skies and high temperatures return next week.
“There is a tropical storm coming from Madagascar which will bring some cool weather to the South African coastline,” said Mthembu.
ER24 spokesman Derrick Banks advised people to keep out of the sun to avoid dehydration.
“Stay out of the direct sun during the hottest times of the day, and drink lots of water. If you need to swim, use sunblock and keep hydrated while swimming,” he said.
His warning came on the heels of a statement reminding car owners not to lock their children or pets in the car even for short periods of time.
In a statement, Banks said cars left standing in the sun quickly heat up, with temperatures inside the vehicle exceeding 60°C, in 30°C outside temperatures.
He said car owners guilty of locking children or pets in cars on a hot day, often say they do so to quickly get in and out of shops. He said that practise is not only dangerous, but potentionally deadly too. - The Mercury and IOL