Heatwave grips Western and Northern Cape as severe thunderstorms threaten four provinces
South Africans can expect a day of contrasting and disruptive weather conditions, with extreme heat settling over parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape while thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours continue to affect several provinces, including Gauteng. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a series of impact-based warnings and advisories as the country braces for hazardous conditions across multiple regions.
SAWS confirmed that the most intense heat will be felt across the western parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape, where temperatures are expected to rise sharply throughout the day. A heatwave is already in effect in the Witzenberg Local Municipality and is forecast to persist until Wednesday. Residents in these areas have been urged to take precautions as very hot to extremely hot conditions are expected to dominate.
While the western regions battle oppressive heat, much of the central and eastern parts of the country are facing a different threat. SAWS has issued several thunderstorm warnings, with the highest alert directed at parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
A yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms has been issued for the highveld of Mpumalanga and northern Gauteng. The warning highlights the risk of heavy downpours, flooding, strong winds, large amounts of small hail, and excessive lightning. According to the SAWS impact scale, yellow alerts indicate a moderate threat that requires increased caution.
A second warning, a yellow level 2 alert, affects southern Gauteng, the eastern Free State, the south-western parts of Limpopo, and sections of the Mpumalanga highveld and southern escarpment. These areas may also experience heavy downpours, localised flooding, hail, lightning and strong winds. Although still serious, level 2 indicates a lower degree of likelihood compared to higher-numbered levels used by SAWS to describe the probability of impacts.
The warning system used by SAWS combines colour coding and numerical levels to explain both the severity and the likelihood of weather-related impacts. Yellow represents a moderate level of concern, while orange points to a higher risk that demands more preparation from the public. Numerical values accompany the colours, with levels 2 and 6 considered high, while level 4 indicates a lower likelihood of impacts occurring.
Alongside these warnings, SAWS issued general advisories noting fog, cloudy conditions and scattered thundershowers across several provinces. Temperatures, however, vary significantly across the country.
GAUTENG
Cloudy and cool conditions are expected across the province with scattered showers and thundershowers.
• Pretoria: 14°C – 21°C
• Johannesburg: 11°C – 20°C
• Vereeniging: 14°C – 20°C
MPUMALANGA
Morning fog is expected along the escarpment before cloudy and cool weather settles in. Scattered showers and thundershowers are likely, with isolated showers possible over the lowveld and northern escarpment. It will be cold in some escarpment areas.
• Mbombela: 17°C – 17°C
• Ermelo: 7°C – 17°C
• Emalahleni: 11°C – 20°C
• Standerton: 9°C – 20°C
• Skukuza: 20°C – 22°C
LIMPOPO
Fog in the morning along the escarpment, otherwise cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, becoming scattered in the south-west.
• Polokwane: 14°C – 17°C
• Phalaborwa: 18°C – 22°C
• Tzaneen: 14°C – 19°C
• Musina: 22°C – 27°C
• Lephalale: 21°C – 23°C
• Mokopane: 16°C – 23°C
NORTH WEST
Partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated to scattered thundershowers in central and eastern areas, becoming cloudy in the extreme east.
• Klerksdorp: 15°C – 24°C
• Potchefstroom: 14°C – 24°C
• Mahikeng: 16°C – 27°C
• Rustenburg: 17°C – 23°C
• Vryburg: 15°C – 30°C
FREE STATE
Partly cloudy, windy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered showers are expected in eastern and central areas. Conditions will be cloudy in the east.
• Bloemfontein: 13°C – 24°C
• Welkom: 15°C – 24°C
• Bethlehem: 12°C – 18°C
NORTHERN CAPE
Fog in the morning along the coast, otherwise fine and windy with hot to very hot conditions. Cloudy in the extreme east.
• Upington: 19°C – 35°C
• Kimberley: 13°C – 29°C
• De Aar: 13°C – 29°C
• Alexander Bay: 16°C – 35°C
• Springbok: 22°C – 35°C
• Calvinia: 18°C – 36°C
• Sutherland: 11°C – 33°C
WESTERN CAPE
Fine, hot to very hot, and extremely hot in some parts, particularly along the West Coast district. The south-west and south coast will be warm.
• Cape Town: 18°C – 37°C
• Vredendal: 18°C – 41°C
• Riversdale: 14°C – 36°C
• George: 14°C – 27°C
• Worcester: 15°C – 38°C
• Beaufort West: 15°C – 33°C
• Oudtshoorn: 14°C – 36°C
EASTERN CAPE (WESTERN HALF)
Fine and warm, with cooler conditions along some coastal areas.
EASTERN CAPE (EASTERN HALF)
Fog in the morning in places, partly cloudy and cool to warm inland.
• Gqeberha: 16°C – 24°C
• Makhanda: 11°C – 28°C
• Cradock: 9°C – 29°C
• Graaff-Reinet: 9°C – 30°C
• East London: 16°C – 23°C
• Port St Johns: 15°C – 23°C
• Mthatha: 11°C – 24°C
• Komani: 9°C – 26°C
• Qonce: 12°C – 26°C
KWAZULU-NATAL
Cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers, becoming scattered in the north-west.
• Durban: 16°C – 24°C
• Richards Bay: 18°C – 25°C
• Pietermaritzburg: 13°C – 21°C
• Ladysmith: 13°C – 21°C
With heat, storms and shifting conditions across multiple provinces, SAWS has urged the public to stay alert for further updates and to take safety measures where necessary.
Follow Us on Twitter
