SA Weather Alert: Wet Weather and Severe Thunderstorms Expected Across 4 Provinces

• The South African Weather Service issued severe weather warnings covering parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State
• An orange level 5 warning flagged the risk of injuries, danger to life and damage to infrastructure in parts of the Northern Cape and Western Cape
• Residents across multiple provinces should brace for hail, excessive lightning and scattered thunderstorms throughout the day

SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa is in for a rough Wednesday. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued multiple weather warnings ahead of what is expected to be a wet and stormy 23 September 2026, with severe thunderstorms forecast across parts of four provinces.

Orange level 5 warning for Northern and Western Cape

The most serious alert of the day is an orange level 5 warning covering the Hantam and Karoo Hoogland districts of the Northern Cape, as well as the Central Karoo District of the Western Cape. SAWS cautioned that storms in these areas carry a real risk of injuries and danger to life, alongside potential damage to infrastructure, settlements and vehicles.

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A yellow level 2 warning is also active across a much wider area, including the Karoo Hoogland District and southern parts of the Northern Cape, large sections of the Western Cape, southwestern and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, and the southern Free State. Residents in these zones should watch out for small hail, excessive lightning and localised damage.

What each province can expect

Beyond the warning zones, unsettled conditions will be widespread across the country.

Gauteng can expect a partly cloudy day with isolated showers and thundershowers. Mpumalanga faces morning fog in the south before clearing to partly cloudy skies with isolated thundershowers. Limpopo will be warm and partly cloudy, with some thundershowers possible over its southwestern areas. North West follows a similar pattern, cool to warm with isolated thundershowers.

In the Free State, cloud cover will be thick and showers could become scattered across the southern and eastern edges. The Northern Cape will see isolated storms turning more widespread in the south. The Western Cape faces a cloudy day with scattered showers and thundershowers, though the West Coast should only see isolated activity.

The Eastern Cape is in for a fully overcast day with scattered showers, thundershowers and rain across both its western and eastern areas. KwaZulu-Natal will start misty over the interior before turning cloudy in the afternoon, with scattered thundershowers developing later in the day.

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Residents living in or near the warned districts are advised to stay alert and take precautions, particularly where hail and lightning pose a threat to life and property.

See forecast here:

3 Briefly News articles on the weather

• The South African Weather Service forecast a mix of foggy mornings, warm spells and afternoon thunderstorms for 22 September 2026.
• The South African Weather Service issued a Level 2 severe thunderstorm warning for KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, 21 September 2026.
• The South African Weather Service issued multiple severe weather warnings for Friday, 18 September 2026, with KwaZulu-Natal facing the highest flood threat.

Source: Briefly News