WEATHER TODAY: Heat wave lifts Richards Bay to 41°C, Pietermaritzburg hits 38°C

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Richards Bay is the hottest place in the country at 41°C as a heat wave holds northern KwaZulu-Natal, with heat in places over the northern Eastern Cape and the Mpumalanga Highveld too. Extremely high fire danger covers most of the central interior, with a veld fire warning from 10:00 to 18:59 for Musina, Thohoyandou, Nelspruit and Skukuza. Cape Town is the wettest spot, with a 60% chance of slight rain and a high of 18°C.

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Weather warnings for Saturday 17 October

SAWS has 3 weather warnings in force for Saturday, the highest warning level 10 for veld fire conditions. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.

Red level 10Veld Fire ConditionsWhereDendron, Thohoyandou, Skukuza, Piet Retief + 52 moreWhenSat 10:00 to 18:59Areas: Dendron, Thohoyandou, Skukuza, Piet Retief, Nelspruit, Musina, Alldays, Lephalale, Postmasburg, De Aar, Schweizer-Reneke, Griquastad, Hoopstad, Aliwal North, Groblershoop, Prieska, Kathu, Warrenton, Bloemhof, Hopetown, Bloemfontein Airport, Fauresmith, Kimberley, Hotazel, Victoria West, Brandfort, Wepener, Daniëlskuil, Tosca, Upington and 26 more.

• Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75 in identified areas. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

What to do: Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time. All available aircraft are to be called for without delay.Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWhereMatatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown + 15 moreWhenvalid until 23:59 on 17 OctoberAreas: Matatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown, Grahamstown, Libode, Lady Frere, Tsolo, Elliot, Lusikisiki, Tarkastad, Stutterheim, Cofimvaba, Ntabankulu, Dutywa, Maclear, Bizana, Ngcobo, Cradock.

• High discomfort
• Heat exhaustion
• Dehydration.
• Heat related illnesses

What to do: Drink lots of liquids and stay in shaded/cool areas with lots of ventilation. Avoid strenuous activities. Avoid exposure during the hottest time of the day. Do not keep elderly and children inside the cars. Seek help if you feel dizzy, weak, having intense thirst and headaches.Warning AdvisoryWeather AdvisoryWhereStanderton, Skukuza, Piet Retief, Barberton + 1 moreWhenvalid until 23:59 on 19 OctoberAreas: Standerton, Skukuza, Piet Retief, Barberton, Nelspruit.

• Persistently high temperatures affect the humans ability to cool their bodies through sweating. This can be a real threat that leads to heat related illness such as hyperthermia, heat stroke and respiratory conditions.
• In an extremely hot environment, the serious health and safety concern is heat stroke.

What to do: – stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities during the hottest time of the day, wear appropriate clothing, and keep an eye on vulnerable Individuals.SAWS advisoryFire Danger WarningsWhat1 item, tap to read

• Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over most of the central interior, most parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal, in places in the Mpumalanga Lowveld as well as the Limpopo Valley and Western Bushveld.

SAWS advisoryAdvisoriesWhat2 items, tap to read

• A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places over the northern parts of Eastern Cape and over the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal until Saturday as well as in places over the Mpumalanga Highveld and southern parts of the Mpumalanga Lowveld until Monday (19/10/2026).
• Hot to extremely hot conditions resulting in extremely uncomfortable conditions are expected in the north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga Lowveld and over Limpopo on Monday.

Moon tonightWaxing Crescent41% lit

The moon tonight is a waxing crescent, about 41% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.

Weather today by province, Saturday 17 October

View 7-Day Weather Forecast

Each province lists its main towns with today’s sky, low and high, rain chance and wind; every province starts closed, tap one to open it. Tide times are inside Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Today Johannesburg peaks at 32°C.

Gauteng

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingJohannesburg and Soweto climb to 32°C with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers, Vereeniging sees thunderstorms at 32°C and Pretoria stays dry and partly cloudy at 33°C after a 19°C start.Johannesburg todayRain, storms32°15°30%NNW 5 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close GautengTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hJohannesburgRain, storms15°32°30%NNW 5PretoriaPartly cloudy19°33°0%NE 5SowetoRain, storms13°32°30%NNW 5VereenigingThunderstorms13°32°30%NNW 10

Western Cape

Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesStellenbosch, Paarl and Cape Town top out at 18°C with a 60% chance of slight rain, while George reaches 20°C with a 30% chance of rain showers.Cape Town todaySlight rain18°14°60%SSE 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Western CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hCape TownSlight rain14°18°60%SSE 15StellenboschSlight rain12°18°60%WSW 5PaarlSlight rain13°18°60%NW 5GeorgeRain showers14°20°30%S 10Tides: Cape TownDayLow tideHigh tideSat 17 Oct00:18, 12:4506:49, 18:53

Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 34°C and Polokwane reaches 33°C.

Mpumalanga

Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloA veld fire warning runs from 10:00 to 18:59 for Nelspruit, Skukuza and Piet Retief, and a weather advisory for Standerton and Barberton lasts until 23:59 on Monday. Mbombela reaches 34°C, eMalahleni 31°C and Ermelo 32°C with thunderstorms.Mbombela todayClear34°18°0%NE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close MpumalangaTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMbombelaClear18°34°0%NE 10eMalahleniPartly cloudy16°31°0%NW 5ErmeloThunderstorms15°32°30%WNW 5

Limpopo

Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaMusina is the hottest at 37°C and Thohoyandou reaches 35°C, both under a veld fire warning from 10:00 to 18:59. Polokwane hits 33°C and Tzaneen 34°C, with clear skies and no rain.Polokwane todayClear33°16°0%NE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close LimpopoTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hPolokwaneClear16°33°0%NE 10TzaneenClear16°34°0%ENE 10ThohoyandouClear17°35°0%E 5MusinaClear20°37°0%E 10

North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 35°C and Bloemfontein reaches 35°C.

North West

Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpMahikeng, Rustenburg and Klerksdorp reach 35°C and Potchefstroom 33°C, with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers everywhere except Mahikeng, which stays partly cloudy and dry.Mahikeng todayPartly cloudy35°16°0%NNE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close North WestTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMahikengPartly cloudy16°35°0%NNE 10RustenburgRain, storms19°35°30%N 5PotchefstroomRain, storms15°33°30%NNW 15KlerksdorpRain, storms15°35°30%NNW 10

Free State

Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadBethlehem starts at a cool 10°C and climbs to 32°C, while Bloemfontein and Kroonstad reach 35°C, all with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers.Bloemfontein todayRain, storms35°14°30%NW 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Free StateTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hBloemfonteinRain, storms14°35°30%NW 15BethlehemRain, storms10°32°30%NW 5KroonstadRain, storms15°35°30%NNW 10

Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 36°C, Gqeberha reaches 23°C and Durban reaches 29°C.

Northern Cape

Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesKimberley is hot at 36°C with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers, Upington reaches 34°C and De Aar 33°C, while Springbok stays milder at 25°C under high cloud.Kimberley todayRain, storms36°17°30%NW 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Northern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hKimberleyRain, storms17°36°30%NW 15UpingtonPartly cloudy18°34°0%SSW 10SpringbokHigh cloud14°25°0%SW 10De AarPartly cloudy18°33°0%WNW 20Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)DayLow tideHigh tideSat 17 Oct12:1306:17, 18:36

Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesA weather advisory runs until 23:59 for Queenstown, Matatiele, Molteno, Grahamstown, Mount Ayliff and Libode. Queenstown reaches 34°C and Mthatha 30°C with possible thundershowers, while Gqeberha and East London reach 23°C with slight rain.Gqeberha todaySlight rain23°15°30%WSW 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Eastern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hGqeberhaSlight rain15°23°30%WSW 10East LondonSlight rain17°23°30%WSW 15MthathaRain, storms16°30°30%SE 10QueenstownRain, storms14°34°30%ESE 10Tides: GqeberhaDayLow tideHigh tideSat 17 Oct00:23, 12:3806:47, 18:46Tides: East LondonDayLow tideHigh tideSat 17 Oct00:25, 12:3806:37, 18:35

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesClear skies send Richards Bay to 41°C on the heat wave's last day, while Pietermaritzburg reaches 38°C and Newcastle 36°C. Durban peaks at 29°C after a 22°C start, with a 30% chance of slight rain.Durban todaySlight rain29°22°30%SSE 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close KwaZulu-NatalTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hDurbanSlight rain22°29°30%SSE 15PietermaritzburgSlight rain17°38°30%ESE 10Richards BayClear20°41°0%N 10NewcastleCloudy15°36°0%ENE 10Tides: DurbanDayLow tideHigh tideSat 17 Oct00:21, 12:3006:32, 18:36

View the 7-Day Weather Forecast

Forecast data: the South African Weather Service and other third-party sources and providers, brought together with the latest AI tools. We take great care to get every figure right, but mistakes are possible.

More weather news, warnings and forecasts are on The South African’s weather page.

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