Free tools · Measured from space

How hot the ground gets

Land surface temperature for every ward, municipality, district and province, month by month since 1984, from the Landsat satellites. Newest summer: 2025/26.

What it coversCovers all 4,485 wards in all 213 municipalities: the whole country.Green: places with records. Worked out from release 2026-11-13. Boundaries: Municipal Demarcation Board, 2026 boundaries. The dataset

Land surface temperature is how hot the ground itself is: roofs, roads, bare soil and leaves, as a satellite sees them from above. Landsat passes at about 10 in the morning and sees only through clear skies. It is not the air temperature a weather station gives: on a sunny day the ground is often 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air, and hard, dark, dry surfaces heat up most while trees, grass and water stay cooler.

What it is not: not the afternoon peak, not the night, not the air you feel in the shade, and not a reading at any one house. A month with clouds rests on few clear looks.

Every municipality, summer 2025/26

Ranked by land surface temperature on clear summer mornings, December to February. “Against usual” is this summer against the municipality’s own summers since 2014.

#	Municipality	Province	Land surface temperature	Against usual
1	Kai !Garib	Northern Cape	51.8 °C	+3.3 °C
2	Dawid Kruiper	Northern Cape	50.0 °C	+0.6 °C
3	Hantam	Northern Cape	49.0 °C	+1.9 °C
4	Khâi-Ma	Northern Cape	48.8 °C	+1.3 °C
5	!Kheis	Northern Cape	47.4 °C	−0.5 °C
6	Matzikama	Western Cape	46.8 °C	+1.2 °C
7	Prince Albert	Western Cape	46.2 °C	+0.1 °C
8	Karoo Hoogland	Northern Cape	46.1 °C	+1.3 °C
9	Kareeberg	Northern Cape	46.1 °C	−0.6 °C
10	Nama Khoi	Northern Cape	46.0 °C	+0.1 °C
11	Beaufort West	Western Cape	45.1 °C	0.0 °C
12	Richtersveld	Northern Cape	45.0 °C	+0.1 °C
13	Witzenberg	Western Cape	45.0 °C	+1.1 °C
14	Siyathemba	Northern Cape	44.9 °C	−1.6 °C
15	Kamiesberg	Northern Cape	44.8 °C	−0.2 °C
16	Ubuntu	Northern Cape	43.7 °C	−0.2 °C
17	Swartland	Western Cape	43.4 °C	+0.8 °C
18	Cederberg	Western Cape	43.1 °C	+2.3 °C
19	Dr Beyers Naude	Eastern Cape	42.6 °C	+0.2 °C
20	Emthanjeni	Northern Cape	42.6 °C	−1.3 °C
21	Bergrivier	Western Cape	42.5 °C	+0.9 °C
22	Thembelihle	Northern Cape	42.3 °C	−2.6 °C
23	Laingsburg	Western Cape	42.3 °C	+0.2 °C
24	Saldanha Bay	Western Cape	41.3 °C	+0.2 °C
25	Kannaland	Western Cape	41.3 °C	−0.1 °C
26	Siyancuma	Northern Cape	41.2 °C	−3.3 °C
27	Sol Plaatje	Northern Cape	41.0 °C	−1.6 °C
28	Joe Morolong	Northern Cape	40.9 °C	−4.7 °C
29	Renosterberg	Northern Cape	40.8 °C	−1.7 °C
30	Letsemeng	Free State	40.5 °C	−1.5 °C
31	Blue Crane Route	Eastern Cape	40.4 °C	+0.3 °C
32	Ba-Phalaborwa	Limpopo	40.4 °C	−1.7 °C
33	Magareng	Northern Cape	40.3 °C	−0.7 °C
34	Tsantsabane	Northern Cape	40.2 °C	−5.1 °C
35	Umsobomvu	Northern Cape	39.9 °C	−0.8 °C
36	City of Cape Town	Western Cape	39.8 °C	+0.9 °C
37	Tokologo	Free State	39.7 °C	−0.9 °C
38	Hessequa	Western Cape	39.7 °C	+1.2 °C
39	Greater Giyani	Limpopo	39.6 °C	−3.5 °C
40	Inxuba Yethemba	Eastern Cape	39.4 °C	+0.1 °C
41	Swellendam	Western Cape	39.4 °C	+0.6 °C
42	Drakenstein	Western Cape	39.3 °C	+0.9 °C
43	Ngqushwa	Eastern Cape	39.2 °C	+2.6 °C
44	Oudtshoorn	Western Cape	39.2 °C	+0.4 °C
45	Makana	Eastern Cape	39.1 °C	+1.2 °C
46	eThekwini	KwaZulu-Natal	38.9 °C	+1.2 °C
47	Musina	Limpopo	38.8 °C	−4.9 °C
48	Kagisano/Molopo	North West	38.8 °C	−3.9 °C
49	King Sabata Dalindyebo	Eastern Cape	38.6 °C	+3.0 °C
50	Kopanong	Free State	38.5 °C	−1.6 °C
51	Greater Taung	North West	38.5 °C	−3.3 °C
52	Nelson Mandela Bay	Eastern Cape	38.3 °C	+1.8 °C
53	Cape Agulhas	Western Cape	38.3 °C	+0.4 °C
54	Langeberg	Western Cape	38.0 °C	+0.5 °C
55	Breede Valley	Western Cape	37.9 °C	+0.5 °C
56	Dikgatlong	Northern Cape	37.8 °C	−3.8 °C
57	Kouga	Eastern Cape	37.7 °C	+1.8 °C
58	Naledi	North West	37.7 °C	−4.3 °C
59	Intsika Yethu	Eastern Cape	37.6 °C	+1.7 °C
60	Makhuduthamaga	Limpopo	37.6 °C	−2.6 °C
61	Theewaterskloof	Western Cape	37.6 °C	+1.2 °C
62	Sundays River Valley	Eastern Cape	37.4 °C	+0.5 °C
63	Buffalo City	Eastern Cape	37.3 °C	+2.9 °C
64	Lekwa-Teemane	North West	37.3 °C	−2.9 °C
65	Stellenbosch	Western Cape	37.3 °C	+2.0 °C
66	Enoch Mgijima	Eastern Cape	37.1 °C	−0.1 °C
67	Collins Chabane	Limpopo	37.1 °C	−5.6 °C
68	Ndlambe	Eastern Cape	37.0 °C	+3.0 °C
69	Gamagara	Northern Cape	36.9 °C	−7.7 °C
70	Kumkani Mhlontlo	Eastern Cape	36.8 °C	+2.3 °C
71	Amahlathi	Eastern Cape	36.7 °C	+2.5 °C
72	Walter Sisulu	Eastern Cape	36.7 °C	−1.4 °C
73	Overstrand	Western Cape	36.7 °C	+2.9 °C
74	Ratlou	North West	36.6 °C	−3.7 °C
75	George	Western Cape	36.6 °C	+0.3 °C
76	Mnquma	Eastern Cape	36.5 °C	+1.9 °C
77	Ga-Segonyana	Northern Cape	36.4 °C	−5.7 °C
78	Raymond Mhlaba	Eastern Cape	36.3 °C	+1.6 °C
79	Kou-Kamma	Eastern Cape	36.2 °C	+1.8 °C
80	Dr AB Xuma	Eastern Cape	36.2 °C	+1.7 °C
81	Kgatelopele	Northern Cape	36.2 °C	−5.8 °C
82	Great Kei	Eastern Cape	36.1 °C	+2.5 °C
83	Maruleng	Limpopo	36.1 °C	−2.0 °C
84	Emalahleni	Eastern Cape	36.0 °C	+0.1 °C
85	Ntabankulu	Eastern Cape	35.9 °C	+0.9 °C
86	Phokwane	Northern Cape	35.9 °C	−2.8 °C
87	Mbhashe	Eastern Cape	35.7 °C	+1.2 °C
88	Masilonyana	Free State	35.7 °C	−2.4 °C
89	Fetakgomo Tubatse	Limpopo	35.7 °C	−3.0 °C
90	Mangaung	Free State	35.7 °C	−2.6 °C
91	Umzimvubu	Eastern Cape	35.6 °C	+0.6 °C
92	Mohokare	Free State	35.6 °C	−2.3 °C
93	Nqutu	KwaZulu-Natal	35.6 °C	−1.7 °C
94	Ephraim Mogale	Limpopo	35.6 °C	−3.1 °C
95	Mossel Bay	Western Cape	35.5 °C	+1.8 °C
96	Ingquza Hill	Eastern Cape	35.4 °C	+1.1 °C
97	Nyandeni	Eastern Cape	35.4 °C	+2.0 °C
98	Tswelopele	Free State	35.3 °C	−3.6 °C
99	Ndwedwe	KwaZulu-Natal	35.3 °C	·
100	Moqhaka	Free State	35.2 °C	−2.1 °C
101	Ngwathe	Free State	35.2 °C	−1.6 °C
102	Lepele-Nkumpi	Limpopo	35.2 °C	−2.6 °C
103	Matjhabeng	Free State	35.1 °C	−2.8 °C
104	Mamusa	North West	35.1 °C	−5.9 °C
105	Nala	Free State	34.9 °C	−3.9 °C
106	Mkhambathini	KwaZulu-Natal	34.9 °C	+0.9 °C
107	Polokwane	Limpopo	34.9 °C	−2.7 °C
108	Tswaing	North West	34.7 °C	−4.7 °C
109	Msinga	KwaZulu-Natal	34.6 °C	−1.2 °C
110	Nongoma	KwaZulu-Natal	34.6 °C	−2.6 °C
111	Maphumulo	KwaZulu-Natal	34.6 °C	+0.9 °C
112	Dr JS Moroka	Mpumalanga	34.6 °C	−3.7 °C
113	City of Matlosana	North West	34.6 °C	−3.1 °C
114	Blouberg	Limpopo	34.5 °C	−5.2 °C
115	Winnie Madikizela-Mandela	Eastern Cape	34.4 °C	0.0 °C
116	City of Johannesburg	Gauteng	34.4 °C	−1.7 °C
117	Emadlangeni	KwaZulu-Natal	34.4 °C	−1.0 °C
118	Dannhauser	KwaZulu-Natal	34.4 °C	−1.4 °C
119	Abaqulusi	KwaZulu-Natal	34.4 °C	−2.1 °C
120	Mafikeng	North West	34.4 °C	−5.1 °C
121	Maquassi Hills	North West	34.4 °C	−4.6 °C
122	Endumeni	KwaZulu-Natal	34.3 °C	−1.2 °C
123	Bushbuckridge	Mpumalanga	34.3 °C	−6.0 °C
124	Elias Motsoaledi	Limpopo	34.2 °C	−2.1 °C
125	Umdoni	KwaZulu-Natal	34.1 °C	·
126	Ulundi	KwaZulu-Natal	34.1 °C	−3.4 °C
127	KwaDukuza	KwaZulu-Natal	34.1 °C	−2.2 °C
128	Molemole	Limpopo	34.1 °C	−3.9 °C
129	Emalahleni	Mpumalanga	34.1 °C	−0.6 °C
130	Thembisile Hani	Mpumalanga	34.1 °C	−2.9 °C
131	Mfolozi	KwaZulu-Natal	34.0 °C	−3.4 °C
132	Lekwa	Mpumalanga	34.0 °C	−0.6 °C
133	Ekurhuleni	Gauteng	33.9 °C	−1.9 °C
134	Metsimaholo	Free State	33.9 °C	−2.6 °C
135	Mandeni	KwaZulu-Natal	33.9 °C	−2.8 °C
136	Umzimkhulu	KwaZulu-Natal	33.9 °C	−0.3 °C
137	Mantsopa	Free State	33.8 °C	−3.2 °C
138	uMhlathuze	KwaZulu-Natal	33.8 °C	−1.6 °C
139	Bela-Bela	Limpopo	33.8 °C	−4.5 °C
140	Steve Tshwete	Mpumalanga	33.8 °C	−0.8 °C
141	Moretele	North West	33.8 °C	−4.7 °C
142	Port St Johns	Eastern Cape	33.7 °C	+2.2 °C
143	Emfuleni	Gauteng	33.7 °C	−2.4 °C
144	Alfred Duma	KwaZulu-Natal	33.7 °C	−2.1 °C
145	Govan Mbeki	Mpumalanga	33.7 °C	−0.8 °C
146	Ramotshere Moiloa	North West	33.7 °C	−4.9 °C
147	Newcastle	KwaZulu-Natal	33.6 °C	−1.0 °C
148	Big Five Hlabisa	KwaZulu-Natal	33.6 °C	−4.3 °C
149	Ditsobotla	North West	33.6 °C	−4.9 °C
150	Midvaal	Gauteng	33.4 °C	−2.6 °C
151	The Msunduzi	KwaZulu-Natal	33.4 °C	−1.2 °C
152	Sakhisizwe	Eastern Cape	33.3 °C	0.0 °C
153	Lephalale	Limpopo	33.3 °C	−5.5 °C
154	Mafube	Free State	33.2 °C	−2.4 °C
155	Dipaleseng	Mpumalanga	33.2 °C	−1.8 °C
156	City of Tshwane	Gauteng	33.2 °C	−3.9 °C
157	Setsoto	Free State	33.1 °C	−3.9 °C
158	Greater Letaba	Limpopo	33.1 °C	−4.7 °C
159	Moses Kotane	North West	33.1 °C	−5.0 °C
160	Rand West City	Gauteng	33.0 °C	−2.7 °C
161	Ray Nkonyeni	KwaZulu-Natal	32.9 °C	−0.8 °C
162	uMlalazi	KwaZulu-Natal	32.9 °C	−2.7 °C
163	Nkandla	KwaZulu-Natal	32.9 °C	−1.6 °C
164	Thabazimbi	Limpopo	32.9 °C	−6.7 °C
165	JB Marks	North West	32.9 °C	−3.9 °C
166	uPhongolo	KwaZulu-Natal	32.8 °C	−4.0 °C
167	Local Municipality of Madibeng	North West	32.8 °C	−5.0 °C
168	eDumbe	KwaZulu-Natal	32.7 °C	−0.9 °C
169	Mthonjaneni	KwaZulu-Natal	32.7 °C	−2.8 °C
170	Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme	Mpumalanga	32.7 °C	−1.0 °C
171	Nkomazi	Mpumalanga	32.7 °C	−3.3 °C
172	Bitou	Western Cape	32.7 °C	+2.9 °C
173	Lesedi	Gauteng	32.5 °C	−2.7 °C
174	Greater Kokstad	KwaZulu-Natal	32.5 °C	−0.2 °C
175	Chief Albert Luthuli	Mpumalanga	32.5 °C	−1.4 °C
176	Mpofana	KwaZulu-Natal	32.4 °C	−0.4 °C
177	Thulamela	Limpopo	32.4 °C	−4.7 °C
178	Makhado	Limpopo	32.4 °C	−3.9 °C
179	Mogalakwena	Limpopo	32.4 °C	−4.2 °C
180	Emakhazeni	Mpumalanga	32.4 °C	−0.7 °C
181	Phumelela	Free State	32.3 °C	−1.5 °C
182	uMshwathi	KwaZulu-Natal	32.3 °C	−0.6 °C
183	Matatiele	Eastern Cape	32.2 °C	−1.0 °C
184	Mogale City	Gauteng	32.2 °C	−3.7 °C
185	Merafong City	Gauteng	32.2 °C	−3.4 °C
186	Inkosi Langalibalele	KwaZulu-Natal	32.2 °C	−1.6 °C
187	Victor Khanye	Mpumalanga	32.2 °C	−2.1 °C
188	Senqu	Eastern Cape	32.1 °C	−1.8 °C
189	Jozini	KwaZulu-Natal	32.1 °C	−5.2 °C
190	Richmond	KwaZulu-Natal	32.0 °C	−0.5 °C
191	Modimolle-Mookgophong	Limpopo	32.0 °C	−5.4 °C
192	Rustenburg	North West	32.0 °C	−6.8 °C
193	uMuziwabantu	KwaZulu-Natal	31.9 °C	−0.4 °C
194	Okhahlamba	KwaZulu-Natal	31.9 °C	−1.2 °C
195	Msukaligwa	Mpumalanga	31.9 °C	−1.5 °C
196	Mkhondo	Mpumalanga	31.8 °C	−1.5 °C
197	Elundini	Eastern Cape	31.7 °C	−0.2 °C
198	Maluti a Phofung	Free State	31.7 °C	−1.7 °C
199	Umvoti	KwaZulu-Natal	31.7 °C	−1.2 °C
200	Johannes Phumani Phungula	KwaZulu-Natal	31.6 °C	−1.7 °C
201	Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma	KwaZulu-Natal	31.6 °C	−0.5 °C
202	City of Mbombela	Mpumalanga	31.6 °C	−2.0 °C
203	Nketoana	Free State	31.5 °C	−3.9 °C
204	Impendle	KwaZulu-Natal	31.5 °C	−0.6 °C
205	Greater Tzaneen	Limpopo	31.4 °C	−2.8 °C
206	Umzumbe	KwaZulu-Natal	31.2 °C	−1.9 °C
207	Thaba Chweu	Mpumalanga	31.1 °C	−1.1 °C
208	uMngeni	KwaZulu-Natal	30.8 °C	−0.7 °C
209	Knysna	Western Cape	30.7 °C	+0.9 °C
210	Dihlabeng	Free State	30.6 °C	−3.2 °C
211	Kgetlengrivier	North West	30.5 °C	−6.7 °C

Inside the metros

In a city the ground heats up most where it is covered by roofs, tar and bare earth, and least where there are trees, parks and water. Each metro page lists its wards from warmest to coolest against the metro’s own average.

By province

How it was checked

Each summer’s land surface temperature was ranked against ERA5-Land’s air temperature for the same months (our weather by ward), place by place: hotter summers on the ground are, on the whole, hotter summers in the air. Sample scenes were measured again at Landsat’s full 30 m, and every ward adds up to its province. The figures are in the docs.

Source

Measured from space by the American Landsat satellites: the ground, not the air.

How we worked this out

Landsat 5 to 2011, Landsat 7 to bridge the gaps, Landsat 8 and 9 from 2013: different satellites pass at slightly different times, so compare summers within the same years first.

What we changed: we kept only the clear land cells (no cloud, cloud shadow, snow or water, with a margin round each cloud), read them at 480 m, and averaged them over each 2026 ward each month; larger places are the sums of their wards.

Landsat imagery courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey (Landsat Collection 2 surface temperature, through Digital Earth Africa’s copy).

Dataset: land surface temperature by ward, release of 13 November 2026.