Autumn turns up the heat: Here’s what's behind the Cape’s blistering weather

Parts of the Northern and Western Cape have been warned to brace for an early autumn heatwave this week.

Temperatures are expected to reach 46°C in some places, with the hottest conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Michelle du Plessis, a meteorologist at Vox Weather, explained that the above-normal temperatures are due to a slow-moving upper-level high-pressure system.

“The dominant pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere causes the air to sink, and as the air sinks, it warms. “

The phenomenon traps the heat at the surface, making it feel even hotter.

She added that northeasterly to easterly winds blowing across the country's interior towards the coastal region are also intensifying the heat.

“Those berg winds will really push the temperatures up along the Western coast, where we can expect temperatures to climb to almost the mid-40s,” she said.

Some relief is expected from Friday onwards as temperatures return to the seasonal average.

To listen to Du Plessis in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: