WATCH: How hot was it really in Zululand yesterday?
Our timelines have been flooded with photos of really, really high temperature readings. Are they correct?
ZULULANDERS took to social media throughout the day yesterday to share their temperature readings in what was arguably one of the hottest days ever.
With such a big difference in numbers, it begged the question – how hot was it really?
ALSO READ: Temperatures hit 40ºC across Zululand
According to weather stations run by the SA Sugar Research Institute (SASRI), Empangeni hit a high of 41ºC – but images shared on social media, especially car temperature readings, were much higher.
Take a look at some of these posted on Facebook:
The reason for this is simple – your car bakes in the sun and gets really hot (hot enough to fry an egg even) and this affects the number displayed on the dashboard.
But just so you know, here are the temps recorded by SASRI with the humidity percentage in brackets:
Dukuduku – 41 (89.5%)
Empangeni – 41 (87%)
Entumeni – 38.3 (91.2%)
eShowe – 40.1 (89.4%)
Gingindlovu – 41.7 (84.4%)
KwaMbonambi – 41 (88.3%)
Makhathini – 38.6 (97.1%)
Melmoth (McMurray) – 34.9 (90.2%)
Melmoth (Merino Farm) – 37 (91%)
Mkuze – 38.7 (89.9%)
Nyalazi – 38.8 (90%)
Pongola – 38 (94.6%)
Port Durnford – 43.3 (91.8%)
St Lucia/Monzi – 39.4 (86.7%)
On Christmas Day in 2014 temperatures recorded in KwaDlangezwa near Empangeni hit 43.6 ºC, while Mtubatuba was at 43.2 ºC and Mtunzini 43 ºC. Richards Bay itself was 42.6 ºC and Mbazwane 41.6 ºC.
WATCH our video below on the struggles of dealing with really hot days in Zululand. It’s a must see!
