Severe Thunderstorms and Flood Warnings
South Africans are advised to prepare for severe weather on Friday, as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued warnings for disruptive rainfall, thunderstorms, and fire dangers across various provinces. Here’s what to expect:
Impact-Based Warnings
- Rainfall & Flooding: Northern Mpumalanga and the south-eastern Limpopo regions face heavy rains that could lead to localized flooding.
- Thunderstorms: Gauteng, eastern North West, northern Free State, and parts of Mpumalanga are bracing for severe thunderstorms. These storms may bring damaging winds, large hail, excessive lightning, and heavy downpours, potentially causing infrastructure damage and dangerous driving conditions.
Fire Danger Alerts
Extremely high fire danger conditions prevail in:
- Northern parts of the Western and Northern Cape, excluding the extreme northeast.
- Western parts of the Eastern Cape.
- Southeastern parts of the Free State.
Advisories
- A heatwave is expected to persist in the northern Eastern Cape until Saturday, January 4, bringing persistently high temperatures.
Provincial Weather Overview
Gauteng
Partly cloudy skies with scattered showers and thundershowers.
- Pretoria: 17°C – 29°C
- Johannesburg: 16°C – 27°C
- Vereeniging: 18°C – 28°C
Mpumalanga
Morning fog along the escarpment, partly cloudy, warm, with scattered showers.
- Mbombela: 21°C – 30°C
- Ermelo: 16°C – 26°C
Limpopo
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
- Polokwane: 19°C – 27°C
- Phalaborwa: 24°C – 31°C
North West
Cloudy skies with scattered showers and thundershowers, warm to hot conditions.
- Klerksdorp: 18°C – 30°C
Free State
Warm to hot conditions, isolated to scattered showers in the north.
- Bloemfontein: 18°C – 34°C
Safety Tips for Severe Weather
- Driving: Avoid areas prone to flooding and exercise caution during heavy downpours.
- Property: Secure loose items that could be damaged by strong winds or hail.
- Lightning: Stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid open areas or tall structures.
- Heatwave: Stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities during peak heat hours.
Stay Updated
Monitor the latest forecasts from SAWS and follow updates for your region.
