Wendy Dondolo|Published
Severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours and damaging winds are expected to affect parts of South Africa on Monday, with the South African Weather Service issuing a Yellow Level 2 warning for most of KwaZulu-Natal and the extreme northern parts of the Eastern Cape.
The warning includes the risk of hail, lightning and localised flooding, with possible damage to infrastructure and settlements. A separate Yellow Level 1 warning has been issued for damaging winds over the western parts of the Free State and the extreme eastern parts of the Northern Cape.
Rain is also expected in several other provinces, with scattered showers and thundershowers forecast along parts of the eastern seaboard and the Lesotho border.
Meanwhile, extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in several provinces, including North West, the Northern Cape, Free State and Limpopo.
Severe thunderstorms threaten KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape
The weather service warned that severe thunderstorms could bring heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning to most parts of KwaZulu-Natal, except the extreme north-east, as well as the extreme northern parts of the Eastern Cape.
The conditions could result in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements.
KwaZulu-Natal is forecast to experience morning fog patches over the interior, followed by partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions, although it will be hot in places in the north. Scattered showers and thundershowers are expected.
The eastern half of the Eastern Cape will be partly cloudy in the north, while the rest of the region will be cloudy and cool, turning cold in some areas, with scattered showers and thunderstorms.
The western half of the province will be partly cloudy and warm in the north, otherwise cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and rain along the coast and adjacent interior. Isolated thunderstorms are also expected over the interior and northern areas.
Damaging winds expected in parts of Free State and Northern Cape
A Yellow Level 1 warning has been issued for damaging winds over the western parts of the Free State and the extreme eastern parts of the Northern Cape.
The weather service warned that the winds could cause localised damage to settlements and agricultural production, while falling trees and dust storms could affect transport routes and travel services.
The Free State is expected to be partly cloudy, windy and warm to hot, with isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered showers are forecast in the extreme east and along the Lesotho border.
In the Northern Cape, conditions will be partly cloudy, windy and hot, although it will be warm in the extreme south. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the east, while the coastal wind will be fresh and southerly.
Rain chances across SA
Gauteng is partly cloudy and warm to hot, with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers in the south. The expected UVB sunburn index is high.
Mpumalanga will experience partly cloudy and warm conditions, with isolated showers and thundershowers over the eastern and southern Highveld. The Lowveld will be hot to very hot.
Limpopo is expected to remain fine and hot to very hot, with no significant rainfall indicated in the forecast.
North West will be partly cloudy, windy and hot, with isolated showers and thundershowers.
The Western Cape is forecast to be cloudy, with isolated showers and rain in the south and adjacent eastern interior, where conditions will be cool to warm.
Elsewhere, it will be fine and warm, although partly cloudy conditions are expected along the west coast.
SAWS has indicated a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers over parts of the central and southern interior, including areas around Gauteng's western and southern neighbours, while a 60% chance of rainfall is indicated over parts of the eastern interior and along sections of the south-eastern and southern coastline.
Extremely high fire danger conditions forecast
Despite the expected rainfall in parts of the country, extremely high fire danger conditions are forecast over the North West, the central and eastern Northern Cape, most parts of the Free State and Limpopo, as well as places in western KwaZulu-Natal and the western parts of the Northern Cape.
Residents in affected areas are urged to remain cautious, particularly where hot, dry and windy conditions could increase the risk of fires spreading.
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