Working on Fire’s ground and aerial resources in the Western Cape have been placed on high alert due to hot and dry weather conditions in most parts of the province.
The South African Weather Services (SAWS) issued an alert for the Western Cape warning that temperatures are expected to reach up to 40 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday over the interior of the West Coast, Cape Winelands, the southern high ground of Namakwa District (N.Cape), Central and Little Karoo.
The Western Cape government urged people to stay out of the sun and not to embark on long outdoor activities as the heatwave can reach dangerous levels in some areas.
Their Disaster Management Centre has also been placed on high alert.
Temperatures along the Garden Route on Saturday is expected to be in the high thirties with a prediction of 31 degrees Celsius in Plett, 38 in Knysna, 36 in Riversdale, 32 in George and 42 in Oudtshoorn.
Meanwhile, the SAWS in Gqeberha says wind speed is expected to increase along the coast and offshore.
Spokesperson Garth Sampson says the wind will become easterly 30 knots offshore between Plettenberg Bay and Cannon Rocks in the afternoon, increasing to 40 by late evening.
He says the increase in wind speed will also affect the swell with up to 4 m expected close to the shoreline.
Sampson says this may lead to an increase in the size of waves that can potentially cause damage between Plett and Cannon Rocks.
Areas west of Cape St Francis are especially vulnerable with a lesser threat in Algoa Bay.
The alert is valid until sunrise on Sunday.
