Port Elizabeth itself recorded 37°C, a degrees lower than the hottest day in the city of 40°C in April 2006.
According to Garth Sampson of the weather office in Port Elizabeth, there is always a hot off-shore Berg wind ahead of a coastal low, which can blow for several days or for only for a few hours.
This is then followed by cool onshore winds which bring low cloud, fog or drizzle to the region, but may, on occasions, produce substantial precipitation when coupled to an approaching cold front.
“Coastal lows are a common feature of the coastal weather in South Africa with an average of about five lows of varying intensities passing through Port Elizabeth per month,” said Sampson.
Other places that recorded more than 30°C on Monday included Plettenberg Bay (36°C), Joubertina (34°C), Patensie (37°C), Uitenhage (37,6°C), Port Alfred (36°), East London (34°C), Graaff-Reinet (33°C), Cradock (31°C), Fort Beaufort (34,5°), Cape St. Francis (35,9°), Addo (38°), and George (36°C).
Sampson said the rest of the week would be cooler again.
