SA is not for sissies...
20/02/2007 06:27 - (SA)
Heat warning for SA
SA 'close to heatwave'
Pretoria - Be warned: Africa is not for sissies.
Some scorching heat is on the way this week and it will have people gasping over a wide area of South Africa.
Emergency Rescue service ER24 has warned that the sweltering conditions can lead to heat exhaustion, serious illness and, ultimately, death (if people don't take precautions).
A national warning has already been published on the South African weather bureau's website.
It forecasts a heatwave with extremely high temperatures in North West, northern Free State and Gordonia from Monday through to Friday, while Gauteng and Limpopo could also be panting from Tuesday.
The max will rise daily
Warm and moist weather is expected in the north-eastern area of KwaZulu-Natal, which means a high discomfort level.
Lee-Ann Clark, a forecaster at the South African Weather Bureau, explained that the present dry weather conditions would lead to a daily one-degree rise in the maximum temperatures.
Johannesburg and Pretoria can expect highs in the mid-30s and in Pretoria the mercury will rise even higher.
She warned: "The situation is serious, especially for people who work in the open, and sports people. Take great care in the sun in the next few days."
Werner Vermaak of ER24 said the human body was vulnerable in hot conditions and it was easy to get heat exhaustion, or sun-stroke.
"Our emergency services regularly treat heat-related cases, especially if no precautions have been taken."
The hot conditions could also explain the higher number of bee attacks on people recently.
Larry Viljoen, chairperson of Eastern Highveld Apiary Farmers, says bees are cold-blooded creatures, maintaining a temperature in the low 30s in their nest.
In unusually hot conditions, they become irritable.
The heat can lead to a tropical cyclone, moving across from southern Madagascar on Thursday which would bring heavy rain to the northern areas of the country.
Cyclonic rain a possibility
Tracey Gill, assistant manager of climatology in Pretoria says it's too early to say how much rain can be expected.
If the cyclone does hit land, Limpopo, the Kruger National Park and parts of Mpumalanga could experience rain by the end of the week.
She warned people in South Africa and Mozambique to be prepared.
Looks like I al going to be cooked again this week. Kat I really need that snow of yours.
.... one can never be to careful. Take care all. 
he is just so precious..
