It was hot enough to fry an egg on a car bonnet.
At least, that’s what The Star photographer Matthews Baloyi thought. Three runny attempts later, he realised he was wrong.
Still, at 35°C, on Monday was Joburg’s hottest day in months, with Pretoria clocking up 37°C.
According to the South African Weather Service, it’s all down to a high-pressure system moving over the country.
Gautengers can expect the hot weather to continue on Tuesday, though the prospects of egg-on-the-bonnet frying will steadily decrease throughout the week.
On Tuesday, Joburg and Vereeniging should hit about 33°C, with Pretoria still slightly hotter at 36°C, with a 30 percent chance of rain.
As the week progresses, the maximum expected temperatures will drop by about 2°C a day, dropping below 30°C by the end of the week.
And brace yourself for those Highveld thunderstorms as the possibility of rain increases to 60 percent by Thursday.
In the interim, weather experts urged people to remember to use sunscreen, wear a hat and drink lots of water.
The heatwave can cause exhaustion, not only in humans, but also for animals, according to ER24.
Here are some tips for coping in the sweltering heat:
* Stay hydrated and stay out of the sun in the middle of the day.
* Ensure you wear appropriate clothing and sunblock when venturing outside.
* If you participate in outdoor activities, make sure that you have adequate rest sessions and keep hydrated.
* Do not consume large amounts of alcohol.
* Ensure that there is appropriate adult supervision when children are swimming.
* Babies and the elderly are vulnerable to heatstroke, so monitor them closely.
* Do not leave your children or animals in a vehicle – even with the windows open.
In cases of heatstroke or exhaustion, the following symptoms could develop: headaches; weakness or disorientation; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps and severe thirst.
“It is important that a person displaying these symptoms be closely monitored as it could result in the patient losing consciousness or having seizures, which could result in death.
“Persisting signs and symptoms may need immediate medical attention,” said Werner Vermaak of ER24. - The Star