Weather outlook: 23 February 2026 – 01 March 2026

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of severe thunderstorms over the central interior, accompanied by heavy rain on Monday.

A cut-off low is expected to approach the Eastern Cape from the northwestern interior, leading to significant cloud development with a chance for heavy downpours in places.

“As the cut-off low-pressure systems approaches the country from the west, it will lead to conditions favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, resulting in heavy downpours, strong winds and hail over most parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, except the north-eastern parts today, as well as western parts of North West and central Free State tomorrow afternoon,” the weather service said.

These weather conditions are likely to cause flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas, along with strong, damaging winds.

The weather forecast for Tuesday shows cloudy weather over the central and eastern parts, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm, but hot in some places. 

Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers expected.

“A Yellow Level 4 for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours and flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas over the western parts of the Eastern Cape and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

“A Yellow Level 2 warning remains for the central and eastern interior for localised flooding due to heavy downpours,” SAWS Meteorologist Tokelo Chiloane said.

Possible flooding due to heavy downpours:

• Wednesday: No significant weather expected.
• Thursday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment)
• Friday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts)
• Saturday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Sunday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West, Free State, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape.

Possible severe thunderstorms:

• Monday: Low 40% chance – Northern Cape (eastern and central parts), Western Cape (except the coastal areas), Eastern Cape (western and central parts), Free State (western parts).
• Tuesday: Low 40% chance- Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape (eastern parts).
• Wednesday: No significant weather.
• Thursday: Low to Medium 40% – 60%chance – Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), Eastern Cape (along the escarpment).
• Friday: Medium 60% chance- North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal (north-western parts), Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Saturday: Medium to High 60% – 80% chance: North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Sunday: Medium to High 60% – 80% chance: North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Winds (not associated with thunderstorms):

• Monday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – East and South-east coast.
• Tuesday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South-east coast.
• Wednesday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South-west coast.
• Thursday: Low 40% chance – West coast.
• Friday: Low 40% chance – East and South-east coast, West coast.
• Saturday: Low 40% chance – West coast.
• Sunday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South and South-west coast.

–SAnews.gov.za