South African heat hits an all-time high

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The South African Weather Service has issued a heat-wave warning as temperatures in the north of the country reach record highs.

At the equinox of 21 September, temperatures were around average, but soon afterwards the thermometer soared. Pretoria shows an average temperature of 29°C for October, but since the start of the month it’s been above that. For the last two days it’s been recording 37°C.

Temperatures over subtropical southern Africa have risen at more than twice the global rate over the last five decades. This will not be the only heatwave this year, nor will South Africa be the only country affected.