WEATHER TODAY: Afternoon storms for Thabazimbi and Bela-Bela, Richards Bay 40°C

A Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms covers south-western Limpopo from 15:00 to 20:59, with heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning possible around Mokopane, Lephalale and Mookgopong. A heat wave holds northern KwaZulu-Natal, where Richards Bay hits 40°C, and the Chris Hani, OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts of the Eastern Cape, with Mthatha at 34°C. Fire danger is extremely high in northern Limpopo, parts of the Northern Cape and around Graaff-Reinet, while Gqeberha stays cool at 21°C.

Weather warnings for Thursday 15 October

SAWS has 4 weather warnings in force for Thursday, the highest warning level 10 for veld fire conditions. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.

Red level 10

Veld Fire Conditions

Where

Graaff – Reinet, Thohoyandou, Musina, Alldays + 1 more

When

Thu 10:00 to 18:59

Areas:

Graaff – Reinet, Thohoyandou, Musina, Alldays, Lephalale.

• Damage to property/settlements, loss of grazing land and possible loss of animal and/or human life.

What to do:

Public is advised not to start any fires under these conditions. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.

Yellow level 2

Severe Thunderstorms

Where

Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Bela-Bela, Nokaneng + 4 more

When

Thu 15:00 to 20:59

Areas:

Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Bela-Bela, Nokaneng, Mookgopong, Lephalale, Vaalwater, Marble Hall.

• Localised damage to infrastructure, settlements(informal), property,vehicles, livelihood and livestock.
• Localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges.
• Localised disruption to municipal services due to lightning activity.

What to do:

Seek safe shelter from hail and lightning. Drive carefully. Stay away from flooded areas.

Warning Advisory

Weather Advisory

Where

Hlabisa, Hluhluwe, King Shaka Airport, Makatini + 13 more

When

Thu 08:00 to 20:59

Areas:

Hlabisa, Hluhluwe, King Shaka Airport, Makatini, Stanger, Mandini, Maphumulo, Camperdown, Melmoth, Riverview, Ndwedwe, Margate, Pennington, Mbazwana, Richards Bay, Eshowe, St Faith's (Cathula).

• Dehydration and Cramps.
• Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
• Impaired concentration

What to do:

– Hydrate regularly/constantly – Avoid outdoor activity – Seek shade – Check on vulnerable people.

Warning Advisory

Weather Advisory

Where

Matatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown + 15 more

When

valid until 23:59 on 17 October

Areas:

Matatiele, Mount Ayliff, Molteno, Queenstown, Grahamstown, Libode, Lady Frere, Tsolo, Elliot, Lusikisiki, Tarkastad, Stutterheim, Cofimvaba, Ntabankulu, Dutywa, Maclear, Bizana, Ngcobo, Cradock.

• High discomfort
• Heat exhaustion
• Dehydration.
• Heat related illnesses

What to do:

Drink lots of liquids and stay in shaded/cool areas with lots of ventilation. Avoid strenuous activities. Avoid exposure during the hottest time of the day. Do not keep elderly and children inside the cars. Seek help if you feel dizzy, weak, having intense thirst and headaches.

SAWS advisory

Impact-Based Warnings

What

1 item, tap to read

• Yellow Level 2 Warning: Severe Thunderstorms resulting in localised flooding and danger to property and infrastructure due to heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning, are expected over the south-western parts of Limpopo.

SAWS advisory

Fire Danger Warnings

What

1 item, tap to read

• Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places over Dr Beyers Naude (Xamdeboo area) Local municipality of the Eastern Cape, northern parts of Limpopo, Xhariep District Municipality of the Free State, as well as Tsantsabane, Dikgatlong, and Phokwane Local Municipalities and parts of Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality of the Northern Cape.

SAWS advisory

Advisories

What

3 items, tap to read

• A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places over the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal until Friday (15-16/10/2026).
• A heat wave with high temperatures is expected in places over chris hani, O.R Tambo and Alfred Nzo District Municipalities of the Eastern Cape until Saturday (15-17/10/2026).
• Hot to very hot conditions resulting in extremely uncomfortable conditions are expected in the eastern parts of KwaZulu Natal until Friday (15-16/10/2026).

Moon tonightWaxing Crescent24% lit

The moon tonight is a waxing crescent, about 24% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.

Weather today by province, Thursday 15 October

View 7-Day Weather Forecast

Each province lists its main towns with today’s sky, low and high, rain chance and wind; every province starts closed, tap one to open it. Tide times are inside Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Today Johannesburg peaks at 29°C.

Gauteng

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingThunderstorms are in the forecast for Johannesburg and Soweto (19°C to 29°C) and Vereeniging (17°C to 29°C), while Pretoria reaches 31°C with showers and thundershowers possible.Johannesburg today

Thunderstorms

29°

19°0%

NNE 5 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Gauteng

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Johannesburg

Thunderstorms19°29°0%

NNE 5

Pretoria

Rain, storms20°31°0%

ENE 5

Soweto

Thunderstorms19°29°0%

NNE 5

Vereeniging

Thunderstorms17°29°0%

N 5

Western Cape

Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesHigh cloud and no rain, with Paarl the warmest at 29°C, Stellenbosch at 27°C and George at 24°C. Cape Town stays mild between 13°C and 21°C.Cape Town today

High cloud

21°

13°0%

NW 15 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Western Cape

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Cape Town

High cloud13°21°0%

NW 15

Stellenbosch

High cloud9°27°0%

NNW 10

Paarl

High cloud10°29°0%

NW 10

George

High cloud12°24°0%

SE 10

Tides: Cape Town

DayLow tideHigh tideThu 15 Oct11:19, 23:4005:27, 17:32

Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 31°C and Polokwane reaches 31°C.

Mpumalanga

Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloMbombela is the warmest at 31°C under partly cloudy skies, eMalahleni (29°C) faces showers and thundershowers, and Ermelo goes from 14°C to 29°C with rain showers.Mbombela today

Partly cloudy

31°

18°0%

SW 0 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Mpumalanga

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Mbombela

Partly cloudy18°31°0%

SW 0

eMalahleni

Rain, storms16°29°0%

N 5

Ermelo

Rain showers14°29°0%

WNW 5

Limpopo

Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaA Level 2 severe thunderstorm warning runs from 15:00 to 20:59 for Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Bela-Bela and Lephalale. Veld fire conditions from 10:00 affect Musina (37°C) and Thohoyandou (35°C).Polokwane today

Rain, storms

31°

17°0%

NE 10 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Limpopo

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Polokwane

Rain, storms17°31°0%

NE 10

Tzaneen

Mostly clear15°32°0%

E 5

Thohoyandou

Partly cloudy19°35°0%

E 5

Musina

Partly cloudy20°37°0%

E 10

North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 31°C and Bloemfontein reaches 30°C.

North West

Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpRustenburg reaches 33°C and Potchefstroom 31°C, both with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers, while Mahikeng and Klerksdorp stay partly cloudy at 31°C.Mahikeng today

Partly cloudy

31°

15°0%

NNE 10 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close North West

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Mahikeng

Partly cloudy15°31°0%

NNE 10

Rustenburg

Rain, storms17°33°30%

N 5

Potchefstroom

Rain, storms13°31°30%

N 10

Klerksdorp

Partly cloudy14°31°0%

N 10

Free State

Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadPartly cloudy all round, with Bloemfontein going from 12°C to 30°C, Kroonstad also at 30°C and Bethlehem at 28°C. Fire danger is extremely high in the Xhariep district.Bloemfontein today

Partly cloudy

30°

12°0%

NNE 10 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Free State

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Bloemfontein

Partly cloudy12°30°0%

NNE 10

Bethlehem

Partly cloudy13°28°0%

W 10

Kroonstad

Partly cloudy13°30°0%

N 5

Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 32°C, Gqeberha reaches 21°C and Durban reaches 30°C.

Northern Cape

Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesUpington is the hottest at 33°C under mostly clear skies, Springbok reaches 30°C under clear skies and Kimberley 32°C. Fire danger is extremely high around Tsantsabane, Dikgatlong, Phokwane and parts of Pixley Ka Seme.Kimberley today

Partly cloudy

32°

14°0%

N 10 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Northern Cape

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Kimberley

Partly cloudy14°32°0%

N 10

Upington

Mostly clear17°33°0%

W 10

Springbok

Clear12°30°0%

WNW 10

De Aar

Partly cloudy15°31°0%

WNW 15

Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)

DayLow tideHigh tideThu 15 Oct10:40, 23:0504:51, 16:58

Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesMthatha (34°C) has a 30% chance of thunderstorms in a heat wave over the Chris Hani, OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts. A weather advisory is in force for Queenstown, Matatiele and Grahamstown; Gqeberha peaks at 21°C.Gqeberha today

High cloud

21°

14°0%

WSW 10 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close Eastern Cape

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Gqeberha

High cloud14°21°0%

WSW 10

East London

Cloudy17°22°0%

SW 10

Mthatha

Thunderstorms14°34°30%

NNW 5

Queenstown

Partly cloudy13°32°0%

WNW 15

Tides: Gqeberha

DayLow tideHigh tideThu 15 Oct11:29, 23:5105:35, 17:43

Tides: East London

DayLow tideHigh tideThu 15 Oct11:31, 23:5305:31, 17:38

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesA heat wave grips the north with Richards Bay at 40°C, and an advisory covers Stanger, Hluhluwe and King Shaka Airport from 08:00 to 20:59. Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle reach 34°C.Durban today

Partly cloudy

30°

22°0%

SSE 15 km/h

Tap for every town today

Tap to close KwaZulu-Natal

Towns today

TownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/h

Durban

Partly cloudy22°30°0%

SSE 15

Pietermaritzburg

Rain, storms17°34°30%

NW 5

Richards Bay

Partly cloudy22°40°0%

NNE 10

Newcastle

Rain, storms16°34°30%

NW 5

Tides: Durban

DayLow tideHigh tideThu 15 Oct11:32, 23:5305:31, 17:40

View the 7-Day Weather Forecast

Forecast data: the South African Weather Service and other third-party sources and providers, brought together with the latest AI tools. We take great care to get every figure right, but mistakes are possible.

More weather news, warnings and forecasts are on The South African’s weather page.