Residents of South Africa are preparing for a weekend with contrasting weather conditions: many parts of the country are expected to experience hot or very hot temperatures, while several provinces are forecast to see isolated showers and thunderstorms, and rain is expected along the West Cape coast.
The South African Weather Service reported that on Saturday, most inland areas will be characterized by clear and hot weather, with the heatwave persisting in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.
Residents in areas affected by the heat have been advised to take necessary precautions, as extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in extensive central inland areas and other regions.
Weather in Gauteng and Northern Provinces
Saturday in Gauteng is expected to bring partly cloudy and warm or hot weather, with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms in the south. A very high UV index is forecast.
In Mpumalanga, the weather will be clear and warm or hot, transitioning to partly cloudy in the afternoon, with isolated showers and thunderstorms over the southern Highveld. Very hot or extreme heat conditions are expected in some Lowveld areas, while Limpopo will be clear and warm or very hot.
North West and Free State will also experience hot or very hot weather, with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms expected as cloud cover increases. Windy weather is forecast in the western parts of both provinces.
In the North Cape, the weather will be clear in the central areas, while the rest of the province will be partly cloudy, windy, and warm or very hot. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected in the northern and eastern parts.
West Cape to face showers and strong coastal winds
The West Cape is forecast to have partly cloudy and cool or warm weather, with isolated showers and rain along the coast and adjacent inland areas. Scattered showers and rain are expected in the far southwestern parts of the province.
Strong winds are also forecast in some coastal sections, especially between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas early in the day, before fresh or strong southwesterly or southerly winds develop along the coast during the day.
The western half of the Eastern Cape will be clear and warm, although it will be partly cloudy and cool along the coast. Cloud development accompanied by isolated showers and rain is expected from the evening along the coast and adjacent inland areas.
The eastern half of the Eastern Cape is forecast to have partly cloudy and warm or hot weather, with cooler weather in some places along the coast and adjacent inland areas. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected from the evening.
KwaZulu-Natal faces extreme heat amid rising fire risk
KwaZulu-Natal is expected to have clear and warm or very hot weather, with extremely hot conditions in some northeastern areas. In the afternoon, the province will become partly cloudy, with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected in the south.
The UV index is predicted to reach the extreme category, increasing the risk of sunburn with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
The meteorological service warned that extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in most central inland areas, much of northern KwaZulu-Natal, Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga, the Limpopo valley, and the Western Bushveld.
A heatwave with persistently high temperatures is expected in some areas of the northern territories of the Eastern Cape and northern KwaZulu-Natal until Saturday, as well as in some Highveld areas of Mpumalanga and southern Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga until Monday.
Chances of rain increase across the country on Sunday
Sunday is expected to bring further hot conditions in many parts of the country, along with the threat of showers and thunderstorms in several regions.
The precipitation forecast indicates a 30% chance of isolated showers in some parts of the central and eastern inland areas, including areas around Kimberley and Bloemfontein and surrounding territories. A 30% chance of isolated showers is also indicated in some parts of the northeastern inland area and KwaZulu-Natal.
Along parts of the southern coast, the probability of precipitation increases to 60%, with an 80% chance of rain indicated in a specific section of the southern coast. The southwestern parts of the West Cape are also expected to experience scattered showers and rain.
SAWS strongly urged the public to remain vigilant regarding changing weather conditions, take precautions against heat exposure, and exercise caution in areas where thunderstorms, strong winds, and fire danger may pose a risk.