The South African Weather Service heat advisory for Cape Town and surrounding areas remains in place, with temperatures expected to peak on Wednesday, 11 March.
City officials say Wednesday is forecast to be the hottest day of the week, before temperatures gradually begin to drop towards Friday.
Much of the Western Cape is expected to experience extreme heat on Wednesday, with several inland towns forecast to reach or exceed 40°C.
Cape Town is forecast at 40°C, with the real-feel temperature probably much higher.
Forecast maximum temperatures:
- Vredendal: 44°C
- Clanwilliam: 44°C
- Paarl: 44°C
- Malmesbury: 43°C
- Stellenbosch: 43°C
- Worcester: 42°C
- Ceres: 41°C
- Atlantis: 41°C
- Cape Flats: 41°C
- Cape Town CBD: 40°C
- Langebaan: 40°C
- Grabouw: 40°C
- Robertson: 40°C
- Strand: 39°C
- Cape Point: 32°C
The outlook for the weekend shows maximum temperatures returning to the mid to upper 20s.
According to City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell, no heat-related emergencies have been reported so far this week.
However, residents are being urged to remain cautious and take steps to reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
“We do want to remind the public to continue doing everything possible to reduce their risk of heat-related impacts, and to pay special attention to the needs of children, the elderly, pets and other vulnerable groups,” Powell said.
READ: Protect your pets during Cape Town’s scorching temperatures
Residents are also advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion.
The City has also warned that the heat advisory increases the risk of fires, and the public is urged to exercise caution when using open flames.
Any signs of fire or other emergencies should be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
