<span>SA warned of hotter and drier summer</span> <span><span>Zandile.Khumalo</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-09-01T17:53:58+02:00" title="Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 17:53">Tue, 09/01/2026 - 17:53</time> </span>
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<img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2023-07/000_1HS5V0.jpg.webp?itok=YHsiKbqE 1x" width="940" height="529" class="image" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2023-07/000_1HS5V0.jpg.webp?itok=YHsiKbqE 1x" src="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2023-07/000_1HS5V0.jpg.webp?itok=YHsiKbqE" alt="Heatwave" />
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<div class="text-long"><p>File: A thermometer showing temperatures during a heatwave. </p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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<div class="text-long"><p>File: A thermometer showing temperatures during a heatwave. </p></div> </div> </div> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_36 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/sa-warned-hotter-and-drier-summer" data-a2a-title="SA warned of hotter and drier summer"><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.enca.com%2Fnews-top-stories%2Fsa-warned-hotter-and-drier-summer&title=SA%20warned%20of%20hotter%20and%20drier%20summer"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a></span>
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<div class="text-long"><p><span>JOHANNESBURG - South Africa could be in for a hot, dry summer as a potentially powerful El Niño forms in the Pacific Ocean. </span></p><p><span>The South African Weather Service reports that the 2026/27 El Niño has already reached levels typical of a very strong event and could intensify further this spring.</span></p><p><span>The latest forecast predicts below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most of the country from October to December.</span></p><p class="text-align-center"><span><strong>READ | </strong></span><a href="https://www.enca.com/lifestyle/over-dozen-australian-suncreams-pulled-over-safety-concerns"><span><strong>Over a dozen Australian suncreams pulled over safety concerns</strong></span></a></p><p><span>Similar conditions are expected to persist into early next year.</span></p><p><span>SAWS warns that the heat and reduced rainfall could fuel severe heatwaves, drought, and pressure on water resources.</span></p><p><span>But the weather service notes that El Niño doesn’t guarantee drought, as regional impacts can vary from one event to the next.</span></p></div>
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