Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours leading to localised flooding are the forecasted conditions for most of SA.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours leading to localised flooding are the forecast conditions for several provinces across the country, according to the South African Weather Service.

Impact-based warnings

A Yellow Level 1 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to heavy downpours, strong winds, hail and excessive lightning is expected over the south-western parts of the North West, extreme north-eastern Northern Cape and the western Free State.

A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours leading to localised flooding over Gauteng, the Highveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga, the extreme southern parts of Limpopo and in places over the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

Fire danger warnings

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Walter Sisulu local municipality of the Eastern Cape, the Matzikama and Bergrivier municipalities of the Western Cape, the central and eastern parts of the Northern Cape and the western and southern parts of the Free State.

Advisory

A steep upper-air system is expected to affect the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape, parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo until Thursday, 18 January 2024.

The public is advised that stormy conditions such as severe thunderstorms and disruptive rainfall leading to flooding can be expected in places. 

The weather in your region

Partly cloudy conditions and warm temperatures with widespread showers and thundershowers are expected in Gauteng.

Hot temperatures are expected in the north.

The expected UVB sunburn index is high.

Mpumalanga will have morning fog patches along the escarpment.

Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy with warm to hot temperatures and scattered showers and thundershowers, but widespread over the Highveld and along the southern escarpment.

Partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions are forecast for Limpopo. 

Scattered showers and thundershowers are expected, with isolated showers in the Lowveld.

The North West will be partly cloudy, with warm to hot temperatures, and isolated showers and thundershowers.

Scattered showers are expected over the central and eastern parts of the province.

Fine conditions and warm to hot temperatures are forecast for the Free State.

It will become partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers, but scattered in the east.

The Northern Cape is expected to be cloudy along the coast and adjacent interior in the morning, with fog patches.

Otherwise, the forecast will be fine with warm to hot temperatures, but very hot conditions in the north.

It will become partly cloudy in the east with isolated thundershowers in the north-east from the afternoon.

The wind along the coast will be a light to moderate southerly to south-easterly, becoming fresh in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy conditions are expected along the south coast and adjacent interior of the Western Cape, where it will become cloudy from the afternoon with a chance of light rain.

Otherwise, fine and warm conditions are forecasted.

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

The expected UVB sunburn index is high.

The western half of the Eastern Cape will have morning fog patches in places over the interior.

Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy with cool to warm conditions.

It will become cloudy with isolated showers and rain in the afternoon, except in the north-west of the province.

The wind along the coast will be a light to moderate southerly.

Morning fog patches are expected in places in the eastern half of the province.

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

It will be partly cloudy with warm to hot temperatures in the north.

Scattered showers and thundershowers are expected from the afternoon, but isolated in the north-west.

The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-easterly.

KwaZulu-Natal will have morning fog patches over the interior.

Otherwise, cloudy conditions and warm temperatures with scattered showers and thundershowers are forecast.

The wind along the coast will be a moderate to fresh southerly north of Richards Bay in the morning.

Otherwise, a moderate easterly to south-easterly is expected.

The expected UVB sunburn index is moderate.