SAWS Issues Yellow Level 2 Warning for Southern Coastline, Damaging Waves Raise Safety Concerns

• The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds on 17 September 2025
• Owners of small vessels and fishing communities along the southern coastline have been urged to exercise caution
• Dry and warm conditions are expected for large parts of the country, with isolated showers forecast for two provinces

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

WESTERN CAPE – Damaging waves are expected to batter South Africa’s coastline on Wednesday, 17 September 2025.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for potential disruptions along the southern coastline, while the rest of the country can expect dry weather. There are also isolated showers forecast for some of the country’s provinces.

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Why did SAWS issue a Level 2 warning?

SAWS warned on Wednesday morning about the damaging waves, saying that they pose a risk to vessels in the water along the southern coastline.

“The warning highlights a risk to small vessels, with the potential for boats to take on water or even capsize due to rough seas,” the statement said.

Mariners and fishing communities are also urged to exercise caution, as the weather could make navigating the waters very difficult. The rough seas are expected between Cape Point to Kosi Bay, clearing from Cape Point to Plettenberg Bay.

What is the weather like for the rest of the country?

While the coast gets battered by rough seas, the majority of the inland area can expect dry or no significant weather issues. The Free State, North West, Northern Cape, and central parts of the Eastern Cape will enjoy a relatively calm day. While the weather is expected to be hot and dry in some parts, there are no fire warnings released.

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KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Mpumalanga can expect some rain to bring relief to dry conditions, with a 30% chance of isolated showers being forecast for the two provinces.

“The rain will be scattered and largely localised, offering brief relief to otherwise dry conditions,” SAWS said.

KZN has experienced some strong winds of late, with some residents also urging caution by sharing videos of the winds battering the province, particularly the coastline.

The weather is not uncommon for this time of year. In 2024, around the same period, a Yellow Level 2 warning was issued for strong winds for KZN.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) at the time placed Disaster Management Teams on high alert and advised residents to stay indoors and avoid going anywhere near the water during the period.

Other weather warnings in the country

Briefly News reported that South Africa is no stranger to weather warnings, as the country is often affected by different phenomena.

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• In March 2025, an Orange Level 5 weather warning was issued for KZN as the province was battered by heavy rainfall.
• In June 2025, the rain was replaced by snow as SAWS warned of severe weather for the Eastern Cape and KZN.
• Two months later, an increase in temperatures in the country led to warnings of wildfires.

Source: Briefly News