The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms expected to impact several provinces on Monday. Residents are urged to remain vigilant as the storms bring risks of heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and excessive lightning.
Regions Affected by the Severe Weather
The warning covers a broad swath of the country, including:
- North West
- Gauteng
- Highveld of Mpumalanga
- Eastern and central Free State
- Most of KwaZulu-Natal
- Southwestern Limpopo
The weather service has highlighted potential flooding risks in these areas and advises residents to take necessary precautions.
Heatwave and Fire Danger Conditions Persist
In addition to thunderstorms, parts of the country are grappling with extremely high fire danger conditions due to ongoing heatwaves.
- High-risk regions include:
- Southern parts of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality
- Western parts of the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape
- The Limpopo Valley and southern Limpopo Lowveld
The heatwave, particularly affecting northwestern and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, is expected to continue until Wednesday, bringing dangerously high temperatures.
Monday’s Weather Forecast
Gauteng
- Conditions: Partly cloudy, warm to hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers.
- UVB Sunburn Index: Low
Mpumalanga
- Conditions: Partly cloudy, warm to hot, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers (except in the northeast).
- Special Note: Very hot to extremely hot conditions are expected in the Lowveld.
Limpopo
- Conditions: Partly cloudy, hot to very hot, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the southwest.
- Special Note: Extremely hot over the southern Lowveld.
North West
- Conditions: Partly cloudy, windy, and hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Free State
- Conditions: Partly cloudy, windy, and hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers (isolated in the south).
Coastal Provinces
Northern Cape
- Conditions: Fine, windy, and hot to very hot, becoming partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers in the east. Warm conditions are expected in the west.
- Wind: Moderate to fresh south to southeast along the coast.
Western Cape
- Conditions: Cloudy in the southwest; partly cloudy and cool to warm elsewhere. The northeast will experience hot weather.
- Wind: Light to moderate southerly to southwesterly, becoming fresh to strong along the south coast by evening.
- UVB Sunburn Index: Very High
Eastern Cape
- Western Half: Cloudy with morning showers and rain, except in the extreme northwest, otherwise partly cloudy and warm (cool along the coast).
- Wind: Moderate to fresh southwesterly.
- Eastern Half: Partly cloudy and warm to hot in the north; cloudy and cool with scattered showers and rain elsewhere. Scattered thundershowers will move south of the escarpment in the afternoon.
- Wind: Light to moderate southeasterly.
KwaZulu-Natal
- Conditions: Partly cloudy to cloudy, cool to warm in most areas but hot in the northwest. Scattered showers and thundershowers (isolated in the extreme northeast).
- Wind: Moderate to fresh northerly in the north at first, shifting to moderate to fresh southerly to southwesterly, and later easterly to southeasterly. By evening, winds south of Mtunzini will become northeasterly.
- UVB Sunburn Index: Very High
Safety Precautions
Residents in affected areas are advised to:
- Avoid low-lying areas prone to flooding.
- Secure outdoor furniture or objects that could be displaced by strong winds.
- Stay indoors during severe thunderstorms to reduce risks associated with lightning and hail.
- Stay hydrated and avoid direct sunlight in areas experiencing heatwaves.
With these weather conditions spanning much of South Africa, vigilance and preparedness will be key to ensuring safety. Stay tuned to updates from SAWS for the latest developments.
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