Uncomfortable conditions to persist in Polokwane into the weekend
Scorching temperatures in Polokwane and the rest of Limpopo is expected to last until Friday with a heatwave warning in place until Saturday.
POLOKWANE – The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a heatwave warning for Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the North West as well as parts of Gauteng and the Free State.
The SAWS says the scorching temperatures in Limpopo are expected to last until Friday with the warning in place until Saturday.
According to the popular TikTok page, the Vox Weather Girls, the heatwave is due to a dominating high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere north of South Africa which is driving the extreme heat and dry conditions.
“This system forces air to sink, compress, and heat up, creating scorching temperatures and suppressing cloud formation,” their page reads.
@vox_weather_girls Vox Weather Update | 4 – 7 December 2024 🥵 A HEATWAVE continues to bake north-eastern South Africa due to a dominating high-pressure system in the upper-levels of the atmosphere. 🌧️ TWO COLD FRONTS will impact the Western Cape and southern coastline respectively on Thursday and Friday, bringing light showers and cooler weather to the south-west, with the cooler conditions finally reaching parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo by Saturday😅 ⛈️ Isolated showers & thunderstorms are possible on Thursday and again on Sunday over Gauteng and the surrounding porvinces, bringing some relief from the EXTREMELY HOT and DRY conditions. ⚠️IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS issued by SA Weather Service for Wednesday⚠️ 🟡Yellow Level 2: Severe Thunderstorms leading to localised damages to infrastructure, settlements (formal and informal), property, vehicles, injuries to livelihood and livestock due to hail, damaging winds, heavy downpours and excessive lightning are expected over the western and central interior of KwaZulu-Natal as well as the southern escarpment of Mpumalanga. ⚠️IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS issued by SA Weather Service for Thursday⚠️ 🟡Yellow Level 2: Severe Thunderstorms leading to localised damages to infrastructure, settlements (formal and informal), property, vehicles, injuries to livelihood and livestock due to hail, damaging winds, heavy downpours and excessive lightning are expected over the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal as well as the central and eastern interior of the Eastern Cape and southern escarpment of Mpumalanga. 🟡Yellow Level 4: Severe Thunderstorms leading hail, damaging winds, heavy downpours and excessive lightning are expected over the north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. #voxweathergirls #weatherforecast #heatwave #coldfront
Meanwhile, uncomfortable conditions will persist in Polokwane and the rest of Limpopo this week with maximum temperatures expected in the high thirties with a slight chance of thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon.
According to AccuWeather’s forecast, Wednesday and Thursday will be the hottest days at 36°C with very hot and partly cloudy conditions expected, while Friday will see a high of 35°C.
A warning is also in place for Friday with the possibility of dehydration and heatstroke while doing strenuous activity.
AccuWeather also cites an extreme max UV index well into next week.
Saturday will see a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon with no other major chance of rain on the cards.
The warm weather will continue into next week with maximum temperatures in the low thirties expected.
In Mokopane, highs of between 36°C and 38°C is expect from today until Saturday with caution advised if outside for extended periods of time as well as danger of dehydration and heatstroke.
Given the extremely uncomfortable conditions, it is important to know what to do to minimise health scares for you and your family.
Heat can affect your health more than you might think. Prolonged exposure to hot temperatures can lead to worsening of heart problems, respiratory difficulties and can also cause heatstroke.
ER24 offers the following tips:
- Stay well hydrated by drinking a lot of water.
- Keep a close eye on babies, the elderly and children. Ensure they stay well hydrated as well.
- Remember to ensure pets have a cool place to relax and cool clean water to drink as well.
- Try to stay out of direct sunlight.
- Wear the appropriate clothing and ensure you use sunscreen.
- Limit participation in outdoor activities. If you plan on participating in outdoor activities, ensure you rest and keep hydrated.
- If you are going to spend time in a pool, ensure your safety and that of children around you. Ensure that they are supervised while around and in the pool.
- Do not leave children and pets in a vehicle even with a window open.
Severe heat stroke or exhaustion signs or symptoms include the following:
- Severe headache
- Weakness or disorientation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Severe thirst
A few tips for coping in hot weather:
- Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside.
- Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
- Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
- Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.
