Wednesday Weather: SAWS Issues Storm and Heatwave Warnings Across SA
- The South African Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds across most of KwaZulu-Natal
- A heatwave is set to continue in north-western KwaZulu-Natal while extremely high fire danger conditions threaten several other provinces
- Motorists and residents in the Northern and Western Cape face damaging winds, with the Western Cape recording a very high UVB sunburn index
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South Africa is bracing for a mixed bag of dangerous weather on Wednesday, 14 October, with storms, fire risk and heatwave conditions hitting different parts of the country simultaneously.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) placed most of KwaZulu-Natal under a Yellow Level 2 warning, cautioning residents about severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, hail, lightning and damaging winds. The warning excludes the northern parts of the province. Authorities noted that the conditions could trigger localised flooding and cause damage to infrastructure and settlements.
A heatwave bringing persistently high temperatures is also expected to linger over north-western KwaZulu-Natal until Thursday, 15 October. The province's UVB sunburn index is forecast to be high, and coastal winds will shift from southerly to north-easterly during the day.
Fire danger and wind warnings in the Cape and Limpopo
SAWS issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for damaging interior winds affecting the Karoo Hoogland local municipality in the Northern Cape and the Central Karoo district municipality in the Western Cape. High-sided vehicles on exposed routes are at particular risk, and temporary structures could sustain damage.
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Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected across the central Northern Cape, north-eastern Western Cape, north-western Eastern Cape and northern Limpopo. The Western Cape's UVB sunburn index is rated very high, and the Central and Little Karoo can expect hot, windy conditions in the afternoon.
Source: Getty Images
Province-by-province breakdown
Gauteng will see partly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thundershowers in the south-west during the afternoon, and a high UVB index. The North West and Free State face warm to hot conditions with scattered storms, particularly in their western reaches.
In Mpumalanga, morning fog is expected over the eastern Highveld and Escarpment before clearing to partly cloudy skies, with heat building in the Lowveld. Limpopo will follow a similar pattern, with cloud and fog in the south-east giving way to warm to hot conditions.
The Eastern Cape presents two faces: the western half will be cloudy with morning fog returning in the evening, while the eastern half can expect warm to hot weather with isolated showers and thundershowers inland.
Residents across multiple provinces are urged to take precautions, particularly those in areas flagged for fire danger and severe storm activity.
Read the full IOL report here.
More Briefly News stories on weather
- South Africa's weather brings inland highs of 33°C, coastal rain and severe thunderstorm warnings in KwaZulu-Natal, with heatwave alerts and scattered storms today.
- SAWS warns of severe Eastern Cape thunderstorms, extreme fire danger across four provinces and a three-day KwaZulu-Natal heatwave, with weather alerts in force.
- Gauteng is bracing for a colder and wetter spell this week as a cut-off low moves towards the province, bringing rain and cooler daytime temperatures.
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Source: Briefly News
