Coffee Bay, SAR, +20,1°C at Night in Winter

South Africa is experiencing an unbelievable heatwave during its winter season, with record-breaking warmth continuing unabated. Residents across the country are facing unusually high temperatures that resemble summer rather than mid-winter conditions. Many are resorting to air conditioning even at night to find relief from the intense heat.

Days have seen temperatures soar up to 33°C, while the nights have become exceptionally warm, entering the realm of tropical nights that are rare for this time of year. Two notable records for warm July nights have been set recently:

• Coffee Bay recorded a minimum temperature of 20.1°C
• Port Edward experienced a minimum of 18.7°C

Such high nighttime lows during winter highlight the intensity of this heatwave and point toward shifting climate patterns impacting South Africa’s traditionally cooler season. The prolonged warmth poses challenges for ecosystems, agriculture, and public health, as the lack of typical cool relief disrupts natural cycles.

This exceptional winter heatwave underscores the growing influence of global warming on regional climates, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and adaptive strategies to cope with increasingly extreme weather events in South Africa.

Illustration picture: https://www.tourismportals.co.za/image/large/wc3.jpg