Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, strong winds and hail are expected across parts of South Africa on Friday.
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South Africa is in for a cold, wet and unsettled Friday, with widespread showers and thundershowers expected across several provinces and a number of severe weather warnings in place.
The most serious conditions are expected over the east-central parts of the Northern Cape, where an Orange Level 5 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms.
Heavy downpours could result in flooding of settlements, roads and bridges, while strong winds, large hail, falling trees and excessive lightning may cause damage and disruption to municipal services. Rainfall coverage in the affected areas could reach 80%.
A Yellow Level 4 severe thunderstorm warning stretches across the central and eastern Northern Cape, western Free State, parts of North West and southern KwaZulu-Natal.
These areas could experience localised flooding, damaging winds, hail, falling trees and frequent lightning. There is between 60% and 80% chances of rain in these areas, with the highest probabilities over the central interior.
The Free State and North West will be particularly cloudy, windy and cool to cold, with scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers.
Severe thunderstorms could bring localised wind and hail damage across parts of the eastern Free State, North West and southern Gauteng.
Gauteng will start partly cloudy before becoming cloudy and cool to warm, with scattered showers and thundershowers. There is a 60% chance of rain in places, and residents should be alert for lightning, gusty winds and localised downpours.
Mpumalanga will have cloudy conditions, becoming cloudy from the south during the afternoon.
Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected, becoming scattered in the south-west, with the chance of rain ranging from about 30% in the north to 60% in the more affected southern areas. It will be warm, becoming hot in places over the Lowveld.
Limpopo will be partly cloudy and warm to hot, with isolated showers and thundershowers before cloud increases from the west during the afternoon. There is a 30% chance of rain.
The Northern Cape faces a particularly unsettled day. The west will be partly cloudy, with some morning showers and thundershowers, while the central and eastern parts will be cloudy, cool to cold, and affected by scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers.
There is a 60 to 80% chance of rain across the wetter central and eastern areas. Strong south-easterly winds along the coast will add to the unpleasant conditions.
In the Western Cape, cloudy, cool to cold weather will dominate, with isolated morning showers and rain over the central and eastern parts, before conditions become partly cloudy in the west during the afternoon.
There is a 30% chance of rain, increasing locally over the eastern interior. Fresh to strong south-easterly winds are expected along the coast, with damaging wind and wave conditions prompting warnings between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
The Eastern Cape will remain cold and wet. The western half will have scattered showers and thundershowers, while the eastern half faces widespread showers and thundershowers, with the possibility between 60 and 80%.
Light snowfall is possible over the extreme north-eastern escarpment, particularly over higher ground, bringing very cold conditions to surrounding areas.
KwaZulu-Natal will be cloudy and cold to cool, although it will be warmer in the north-east. Widespread showers and thundershowers are expected in the west and south, with scattered activity elsewhere.
Strong southerly to south-westerly winds along the coast will contribute to hazardous marine conditions, with warnings for damaging winds and waves.
Overall, Friday will be a high-impact weather day for much of the country. The greatest concern is over the central interior, where rain, severe thunderstorms, flooding, hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning could create dangerous travel conditions and disrupt communities.
Residents in affected areas should remain weather-aware and take shelter promptly if severe thunderstorms approach.
IOL News
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