Northern Cape Braces for Sweltering Conditions As Upington Reaches 35°C on Thursday
- Upington is forecast to reach 33–35°C on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with temperatures climbing further into the high 30s over the weekend
- The Northern Cape faces a triple threat of heat, wind, and extremely high fire danger extending into parts of North West as well
- Things are a lot cooler in the Western Cape as Cape Town sits roughly 14–16°C cooler than Upington, though a warmer spell is expected
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
SOUTH AFRICA — A sharp temperature divide is set to define South Africa's weather on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with the Northern Cape interior bracing for scorching heat while the Western Cape coast remains considerably cooler.
Upington stands out as the country's hottest forecast point, with Thursday highs projected between 33°C and 35°C depending on the modelling source.
Temperatures are expected to climb further through the weekend, reaching the mid-to-upper 30s by Saturday and Monday. Overnight lows will hover around 18–19°C before edging into the low-to-mid 20s as the weekend progresses.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Northern Cape faces heat, wind and fire danger
The heat is not confined to Upington, as Kimberley and Vryburg are both forecast at around 33°C, while other areas across the province are also expected to be warm to hot. The South African Weather Service has also forecast windy conditions in the eastern parts of the Northern Cape during afternoon hours.
Compounding the heat and wind is an extremely high fire-danger warning currently in place for sections of the northeastern Northern Cape. That warning stretches into the Greater Taung area in North West, creating a concerning combination of conditions across the region.
Cape Town's cooler Thursday is fairly typical
While the Northern Cape cooks, the Western Cape is at the other end of the scale. Cape Town is forecast to reach 19–20°C on Thursday, with an overnight low ranging from 8°C to 13°C. The city will experience partly cloudy conditions with little chance of rain.
While the gap between Cape Town and Upington of roughly 14–16°C is striking, the Western Cape city's Thursday temperature is not historically unusual. October average highs in Cape Town sit at around 20°C, meaning Thursday's forecast is close to the city's seasonal norm.
What makes the picture more notable is the trajectory. Cape Town could warm to 25°C or higher by Saturday, with several forecast models pointing to a significant warming trend across the weekend.
What does the rest of the country look like?
The Eastern Cape remains in the low-to-mid 20s along the coast, with Gqeberha forecast at around 23°C. George, like Cape Town, sits near 20°C on Thursday.
Elsewhere across the interior, Bloemfontein is expected to reach around 30°C, Pretoria around 29°C, and Mahikeng about 31°C. Durban sits in the mid-20s, while Mpumalanga and Limpopo could see morning fog and possible drizzle near the escarpment before warming up later in the day.
Other weather-related stories in South Africa
Briefly News reported that South Africa is no stranger to weather warnings, as the country is often affected by different phenomena.
- In March 2025, an Orange Level 5 weather warning was issued for KZN as the province was battered by heavy rainfall.
- In June 2025, the rain was replaced by snow as SAWS warned of severe weather for the Eastern Cape and even KZN.
- Two months later, an increase in temperatures across the country led to several warnings of wildfires.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
