Cape Town has been experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching a record high of 42.1°C on Wednesday, making it the hottest day so far this year. The scorching heat sent large crowds flocking to beaches, pools, and air-conditioned shops to cool down. According to the South African Weather Service, the peak temperature was recorded in the city, with surrounding towns such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Grabouw also experiencing extremely high temperatures.
Heatwave Relief
Residents sought relief from the heat by visiting ice cream shops, with many businesses reporting a significant increase in sales. Aaliyah Lakay from Two Scoops of Happiness in Mitchells Plain said, “It was definitely more busy today, especially for a Wednesday. People wanted to cool down, that’s for sure… our mud-pie ice cream was the fan favourite.”
Meanwhile, the city’s dams continue to struggle, with water levels 17.5% lower than this time last year. The City of Cape Town has urged residents to conserve water and reduce their usage to mitigate the effects of the drought.
Temperature Readings
SA Weather Service senior forecaster Stella Naka warned that the sky-high temperatures seen on car dashboards are not an accurate measure of the real temperature outdoors. “Readings from cars do not meet the standards set by the World Meteorological Organisation, as they are affected by sunlight, hot road surfaces, and heat from the vehicle itself,” she said.
Here are some of the temperatures recorded in and around Cape Town on Wednesday:
- Stellenbosch: 41.7°C
- Paarl: 43.1°C
- Grabouw: 39.2°C
- Kirstenbosch: 42.1°C
The heatwave is expected to gradually cool down from Friday, with temperatures forecast to reach around 30°C in Cape Town.
