South Africa faces 1,200 projected heat deaths as Super El Niño intensifies
South Africa could see about 1,200 additional heat deaths between September and February as a potentially record-breaking El Niño drives extreme temperatures and changing weather patterns worldwide.
South Africa is projected to experience around 1,200 additional heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027, according to a new report by the Climate Impact Lab. This figure represents an estimated range of plus or minus 90 deaths and is part of a broader warning that this year's El Niño could become the strongest on record.
The Climate Impact Lab also estimates that 451,000 people globally could die from extreme heat during the first nine months of the El Niño, from June 2026 to February 2027. The report warns that the climate phenomenon could also contribute to drought, wildfires, and flooding as higher temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns affect different regions.
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