Thursday’s weather: Heavy downpours, strong winds, and a chance of flooding expected in 5 provinces

A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms in multiple provinces.

Expect a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms with a possibility of large amounts of small hail and heavy downpours leading to localised flooding, as well as strong winds and excessive lightning, which could cause structural damage in at least five provinces. That’s according to the South African Weather Service.

Impact-based warning

A Yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms with the possibility of large amounts of small hail, heavy downpours leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, strong damaging winds and excessive lightning, which could lead to structural damages, are expected over the escarpment areas in Mpumalanga, south-central parts of Limpopo, north-western interior in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as over the northern parts of the Free State and central parts of the North West. 

Fire danger warnings

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places over the central and eastern parts of the Northern Cape, and the western parts of the Free State and North West provinces. 

Advisories

A heatwave with persistently high temperatures is expected over the Joe Gqabi District in the Eastern Cape until Friday, as well as over the Free State, the eastern parts of the Northern Cape, over the southern and western parts of the North West until Thursday, but basically persisting over the entire North West until Saturday. 

The weather in your region

Gauteng can expect fine and warm conditions becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers and thundershowers by the late afternoon. 

The expected UVB sunburn index is extreme.

Cloudy in the east in the morning with a chance of drizzle and fog patches along the escarpment is the forecast for Mpumalanga.

Otherwise, partly cloudy and warm conditions are expected with isolated showers and thundershowers, but scattered over the eastern Highveld. 

Limpopo will be cloudy in the central and eastern parts in the morning with fog patches on the escarpment.

Otherwise, partly cloudy and warm to hot temperatures are forecast with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the south-east, except in the extreme north-east.

Partly cloudy and hot to very hot conditions with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the North West. 

The Free State is forecast to be partly cloudy with hot to very hot temperatures and isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers, except in the west.

Morning fog patches along the coast are expected in the Northern Cape.

Otherwise, fine and hot to very hot conditions are forecast, but it will be partly cloudy in the east with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers in the extreme north-east.

The wind along the coast will be a moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly, but strong at times in the afternoon. 

The Western Cape will be cloudy to partly cloudy over the east and southern parts, clearing from the north east from late morning.

Otherwise, fine and cool to warm, but hot temperatures over the north-eastern interior are expected. 

The wind along the coast will be a strong southerly to south-easterly along the west and south-west coast, moderating by the evening. 

The expected UVB sunburn index is extreme.

Fine and warm temperatures are forecast in the western half of the Eastern Cape, becoming cloudy in the evening.

The wind along the coast will be a moderate south-westerly, becoming a moderate southerly in the afternoon. 

The eastern half of the province can expect fine and hot temperatures north of the escarpment.

Otherwise, cloudy and cool conditions are forecast with a chance of light rain and drizzle.

The wind along the coast will be a moderate south-westerly becoming a moderate south-easterly in the afternoon.

KwaZulu-Natal can expect morning fog patches over the interior.

Otherwise, partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions with scattered showers and thundershowers but isolated along the coast and in the north-east are forecast.

The wind along the coast will be a moderate to fresh north-easterly north of Durban, otherwise gentle to moderate wind is expected. 

The expected UVB sunburn index is extreme.