South Africa faces a weather alert for severe thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds today, Tuesday, 28 October 2025. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued Yellow Level 2 warnings for parts of Limpopo, North West, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. Authorities also warn of extremely high fire danger in the Kamiesberg Local Municipality, Northern Cape.
Expect rapid storm build-ups, short bursts of heavy rain, and possible power interruptions. Low-lying roads may flood quickly. Hail can damage vehicles, roofs, and informal structures. Take simple steps now to reduce risk.
Weather Alert: What the warnings mean
SAWS uses an impact-based system. Colour reflects potential impact. Level shows the chance of that impact happening. A Yellow Level 2 warning signals moderate impacts with a credible chance. You should act with caution, not panic.
SAWS issues these alerts with the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). Municipal teams use them to prepare traffic, emergency, and infrastructure responses. You can use them to plan your day and avoid unnecessary risk.
ALSO READ: Weather Alert: Gauteng Braces for Rainy Week, Western Cape to See Clear Skies
Today’s risk osmallverview
Main hazards: Small hail, damaging winds, excessive lightning, and localised flooding on low bridges and roads.
Focus areas:
- Central Limpopo this Northwest. morning.
- Western North West.
- Northern and central Free State.
- Southern Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
- Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal.
Fire danger: Extremely high over Kamiesberg Local Municipality (Northern Cape).
This weather alert focuses on the interior provinces and the northwest of KZN. If you live or work in these areas, build extra time into your plans. From midday, keep an eye on developing clouds and radar updates.
Provincial outlooks at a glance
Gauteng
Partly cloudy and warm. Isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered storms in the south. The UVB index is very high. Limit prolonged sun exposure.
Mpumalanga
Partly cloudy in the Highveld. Cloudy and cool elsewhere. Warm in the Lowveld. Isolated thundershowers, scattered in the extreme southeast.
Limpopo
Cloudy in the east at first. Otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm. Isolated storms. Scattered over the central parts in the morning.
North West
Partly cloudy and warm to hot. Scattered showers and thundershowers. Isolated in the east later.
Free State
Partly cloudy and warm to hot. Scattered showers and thundershowers. Isolated in the west.
KwaZulu-Natal
Partly cloudy to cloudy and cool to warm. Isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered in the northwest.
Northern Cape
Fine in the west and south. Elsewhere partly cloudy and warm to hot. Isolated thunderstorms are scattered in the far northeast. Fire danger remains high in Kamiesberg.
Western Cape and Eastern Cape
The Western Cape stays mostly fine and cool to warm, with some morning or evening low cloud. The Eastern Cape splits. The western half is fine and warm, cooler along the coast. The eastern half is cloudy along the Wild Coast and adjacent interior; otherwise, it is partly cloudy and warm with cooler coastal zones.
What to do today
Storm days reward simple preparation. You do not need special gear. You need a plan.
- Protect vehicles and property: Park under cover if hail approaches. Bring in or tie down loose items.
- Travel safely: Avoid low-water crossings. Do not drive through fast-moving water. Delay trips when a storm cell is overhead.
- Lightning safety: Move indoors when you hear thunder. Unplug sensitive electronics if safe to do so.
- Stay connected: Charge phones early. Share your route if travelling on secondary roads.
- Help others: Check on neighbours, schools, and clinics in flood-prone areas.
- Kamiesberg fire risk: Avoid any open flames. Report smoke to local authorities at once.
Treat this weather alert as a prompt to act early and stay flexible.
Why storms form quickly in spring
Spring brings strong surface heating and lingering moisture. Passing troughs and wind shifts lift that moisture. Storms then form fast. These “pulse” storms can produce heavy rain, small hail, and strong downdrafts within an hour. That is why warnings often update during the afternoon.
CHECK OUT: Today’s Weather Forecast – 28 October 2025
