KZN heatwave: Expect HIGH temps of up to 39C

The SA weather service has issued a heatwave warning for parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where temperatures could reach up to 39C.

By: Storm Simpson

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a weather advisory for a heatwave in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Monday, 23 January.

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KZN HEATWAVE

The heatwave advisory is valid from 00:00 on Sunday until 20:00 on Tuesday, 24 January. The affected municipalities include Ugu, eThekwini, Ilembe. King Cetshwayo, Ukhanyakude, Zululand and parts of Umzinyathi, Umgungundlovu and Harry Gwala.

“A heatwave with persistently high temperatures is expected over central and eastern parts of KZN from Sunday to Tuesday. Temperatures ranging from 32C to 39C” said the weather service.

The potential weather impacts of the KZN heatwave include:

• Hyperthermia because the human ability to cool the body through sweat is reduced in hot environments. Individuals can also develop respiratory issues.
• The weather service stressed that the most serious health and safety concern in extremely hot environments is heat stroke, which can be fatal if medical attention is not immediately available.

As previously reported, the weather service issued a similar heatwave advisory for Gauteng, where temperatures could reach 37C. Last week, seven farmworkers have died of heatstroke in Kakamas, Northern Cape. Five workers died on Thursday and two more died on Friday morning.

The Northern Cape Department of Health said signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may be nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps and dizziness.

As previously reported, the department added that some individuals can develop heatstroke symptoms “suddenly and rapidly without warning.”

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