By Rudolf Britz,
Weather forecasters are warning of an unprecedented Super El Niño event, projected to intensify across South Africa in late 2026 and early 2027. Driven by significant sea-surface warming in the tropical Pacific, this phenomenon is expected to push local temperatures 1°C to 3°C above average, triggering severe heatwaves, prolonged drought conditions, and a higher risk of veld fires, particularly across summer rainfall regions.
While extreme heat is often viewed as a seasonal inconvenience, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can inflict severe structural and mechanical damage on your home, vehicle, and personal possessions. Understanding these risks is the first step in protecting your high-value assets before extreme weather strikes.
As South Africa has not experienced a significant Super El Niño event in recorded history, we don’t have sufficient historical claims data to isolate the impact. That said, prolonged hot, dry conditions are known to increase the risk of veld fires, while sudden shifts in weather can trigger severe thunderstorms and localised flooding. These kinds of conditions could lead to increased claims activity across motor, household contents, and building insurance portfolios.
Here are eight ways severe summer heat can impact your assets and how to mitigate the risks.
1. Roofing materials under strain
Long periods of hot sun can slowly damage your roof. As temperatures rise and fall, roofing materials expand and shrink, which can cause tiles to crack, seals to wear out and waterproofing to weaken. When the rains eventually come, these weak spots can let water into your home, causing leaks and damage. Checking your roof regularly and sealing any visible gaps can help prevent costly repairs.
2. Strain on solar energy systems
Very hot weather can affect how well your solar power system works. High temperatures can reduce the amount of electricity your solar panels produce and cause inverters and batteries to overheat. In some cases, the system may automatically switch off to protect itself, leaving your home without power for a while. Keeping solar panels clean and making sure batteries have good airflow can help your system perform better during hot weather.
3. Vulnerability of outdoor geysers
Geysers installed externally or in uninsulated roof cavities absorb substantial ambient heat. Sustained thermal exposure increases internal pressure and strains relief valves, potentially causing leaks or component failure. Installing heat-reflective covers or ensuring proper insulation mitigates the impact of direct sunlight.
4. Pool equipment failure and water loss
Extreme heat accelerates chemical evaporation and promotes rapid algae growth, demanding increased pump run-times and careful chemical balancing. Furthermore, unmonitored water evaporation can cause pool water levels to drop below the weir gate. When this happens, pump motors draw in air, leading to dry running and costly motor burnout. Regularly topping up water levels and monitoring weir baskets prevents damage.
5. Greater load on home electrical systems
Heatwaves encourage continuous use of air conditioners and fans, placing continuous load on electrical networks. Overloaded circuits generate internal heat, increasing the risk of tripped breakers or electrical faults. Staggering the use of heavy-power appliances and servicing cooling systems ensures safe operational limits.
6. Elevated tyre safety risks
High temperatures significantly increase tyre pressure and road surface heat. Driving on underinflated or worn tires in extreme conditions accelerates tread wear and increases the likelihood of sudden blowouts. Regularly checking tire pressure when the vehicle is cool and ensuring adequate tread depth are critical safety measures during heatwaves.
7. Accelerated car battery degradation
While cold weather is often blamed for battery failure, extreme heat is equally damaging. High temperatures accelerate the chemical reactions inside a car battery and speed up internal fluid evaporation, leading to corrosion and premature failure. Having battery health tested before the peak of summer can prevent unexpected breakdowns.
8. Increased fire hazards from dry conditions
Extended hot and dry spells create prime conditions for vegetation fires, particularly in areas near open fields or veld. Radiant heat and wind-driven embers pose a direct threat to nearby properties. Clearing dry brush, maintaining boundary firebreaks, and keeping gutters free of flammable debris lowers risk levels substantially.
Proactive risk management
We will continue to monitor trends relating to severe weather, including storms, floods, hail, and veld fires, as part of our broader approach to assessing weather-related claims. There is no question that extreme climatic conditions are an increasingly regular feature of South African summers, making preparation just as vital as financial protection. Preventative care and timely maintenance proactively reduces risk.
Given the growing risk of climate events, reviewing insurance policies regularly ensures that sum-insured values reflect current replacement costs, offering peace of mind throughout the season. Rising inflation, escalating building costs, and increases in replacement values remain key drivers of underinsurance. Policyholders who have not reviewed their insured values recently risk finding themselves underinsured when a significant loss event occurs.
Rudolf Britz, Chief Actuary at Momentum Insure
