Residents of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have been urged to prepare for severe weather conditions on Monday, as thunderstorms with heavy downpours, strong winds, and hail are expected to impact the regions.
The South African Weather Services (Saws) issued the warning following heavy rains that caused widespread flooding and damage in Gauteng last week.
Floods and Weather Warnings
Several areas in Gauteng, including Randpark Ridge, Newlands, Strubens Valley, Weltevredenpark, Jukskei Park, and Witkoppen Road, were severely affected by recent floodwaters.
In response, Saws has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning, advising residents to take necessary precautions.
“Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, resulting in localized flooding, strong and damaging winds, excessive lightning, and large amounts of small hail are expected over the central parts and escarpment of Mpumalanga, extreme southeastern parts of Limpopo, and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal,” Saws stated.
Provincial Weather Outlook
Gauteng
Residents in Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and warm conditions, with isolated showers and thundershowers throughout the day.
Mpumalanga
The province will experience morning fog along the escarpment, followed by partly cloudy and warm conditions. Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected, except in the Lowveld, where temperatures will be hot.
Limpopo
Limpopo will have partly cloudy skies, with warm to hot temperatures. Isolated showers and thundershowers are forecast, except for the Lowveld region, where conditions will remain dry and hot.
North West
The North West province will experience partly cloudy and warm conditions, with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Free State
Morning fog is expected over the southern parts of the Free State, while the rest of the province will be partly cloudy and warm. Isolated showers and thundershowers are likely, with scattered showers expected in the east.
Northern Cape
The province will see morning fog in the southern areas, followed by partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions. Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected in the north, while the western region will clear up by the afternoon. Coastal areas will experience moderate southerly winds, which will strengthen to fresh to strong southeasterly winds later in the day.
Western Cape
Cloudy skies with light morning rainfall are expected along the southern parts of the Western Cape, where it will be cool. By the afternoon, conditions will become partly cloudy, while the northwestern areas will remain fine and warm. Coastal winds will be light and variable along the southern coast, turning moderate to fresh south-easterly later in the day.
Eastern Cape
Western Half
The western half of the Eastern Cape will be cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and light rain along the coast and adjacent interior areas. Coastal winds will be moderate to fresh southwesterly, becoming light southerly in the afternoon.
Eastern Half
In the eastern half of the Eastern Cape, cloudy and cool conditions will persist, with scattered showers and rain south of the escarpment. Isolated thunderstorms are forecast in the northern areas. Winds along the coast will be moderate to fresh southwesterly.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal residents should prepare for morning fog in certain interior areas, followed by partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions. In the afternoon, scattered showers and thundershowers will develop. Coastal winds will start as moderate northerly to north-easterly but will shift to fresh to strong southerly to south-westerly winds south of Durban by late morning, reaching Kosi Bay in the afternoon.
Precautions and Safety Measures
Given the severe weather conditions expected in these provinces, residents are advised to take precautionary measures, including:
- Avoiding low-lying areas prone to flooding.
- Securing outdoor furniture and loose objects to prevent damage from strong winds.
- Avoiding unnecessary travel during thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
- Staying indoors during periods of excessive lightning.
- Monitoring weather updates from Saws and local authorities.
The upcoming weather conditions highlight the importance of staying informed and prepared for sudden changes in climate patterns. Residents should remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.