People in the Western Cape have been warned to prepare for an extreme heat wave for the next 36 hours or so.
The SAWS has issued an extreme heat warning for the Western Cape and temperatures are already rising.
This latest extreme heat alert has already come into force on Monday afternoon, with the thermometer set to push 40C in regions such as Drakenstein and Stellenbosch. The Western Cape is still reeling from a weekend where local records came close to breaking point – and the summer heatwave isn’t letting up any time soon…
“Extremely hot conditions are expected over the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch Municipalities on Monday. Heatwave conditions are also expected in Swartland, Cape Town Metro Regions, western parts of the Cape Winelands, Overberg, and Little Karoo right up until Tuesday evening,” said a statement by the SAWS.
Paarl, Tulbagh and Malmesbury are likely to experience to the hottest temperatures this week, with all three regions forecast to reach the high-thirties to low-forties. Temperatures will push 35C in the Cape Town Metro Regions.
In issuing their extreme heat warning for the Western Cape – which will last from 12:00 on Monday to 20:00 on Tuesday – SAWS have also cautioned against possible life-threatening impacts these conditions can cause:
- With more extreme heat in the WC, some people will ‘lose their ability to cool down’, giving themselves hyperthermia.
- It’s been a dry and hot season for Cape Town; conditions which provide fertile ground for new veld fires.
- However, heat stroke is the biggest danger in these conditions – and SAWS have warned of potentially fatal consequences:
“Temperatures may reach 40C. In an extreme hot environment, the most serious health and safety concern in heat stroke. This can be fatal if medical attention is not made available immediately.”
Sources: MSN, Newschant
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