The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that large parts of the country can expect widespread rain and thunderstorms this weekend, with a level 2 yellow warning for severe thunderstorms over the North West Province on Friday.
According to SAWS, the dominant weather systems for Friday to Sunday will be a trough over the western interior and a high-pressure ridge over eastern parts of South Africa.
This combination is expected to produce isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms in most regions, with the exception of much of the Northern Cape, which will remain largely dry.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected over the eastern and northeastern parts of the country, with temperatures expected to remain cool to warm throughout the weekend.
The weather service said the warning for the eastern and central northwest includes the risk of heavy rain that could cause localized flooding in low-lying areas and bridges, as well as damaging winds, hail and excessive lightning.
Extremely high fire danger conditions are also forecast in the Northern Cape, the western and central northwest, the western Free State, the northwestern Eastern Cape and the northern Western Cape.
TimesLIVE
Mmatumelo Lebjane
www.timeslive.co.za
