A cold and unsettled weather pattern will dominate large parts of South Africa on Thursday, with the South African Weather Service warning of severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, strong winds and small hail over parts of the Western and Northern Cape.
A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms affecting the eastern parts of the Western Cape and southern areas of the Northern Cape.
These storms could bring large amounts of small hail, damaging wind gusts and intense rainfall, creating difficult travel conditions and the risk of localised flooding.
Rainfall is expected to be concentrated over the southern and western interior, extending into parts of the Eastern Cape.
The highest rain chances of 60% are forecast over the central and southern Karoo, including areas around Sutherland, Graaff-Reinet and parts of the Garden Route, where scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely. A 30% chance of rain covers a broader area stretching across the Western Cape interior, southern Northern Cape and much of the Eastern Cape.
The Western Cape will be partly cloudy to cloudy and cool, with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the far eastern districts from mid-morning. Conditions will remain cool across the province as north-westerly winds dominate along the coastline.
In the Northern Cape, partly cloudy to cloudy and cool conditions are expected, with isolated showers and thunderstorms across much of the province and scattered thunderstorms over southern districts. Strong coastal winds are expected at times between Table Bay and Plettenberg Bay before shifting north-westerly later in the day.
The Western Half of the Eastern Cape faces the wettest conditions outside the Cape provinces, with cloudy and cool weather accompanied by scattered showers and thunderstorms. The eastern half of the province will experience cloudy to partly cloudy conditions with isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Elsewhere, most of the country will remain dry but cool. Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and cool conditions, while the North West and Free State will start the day with patches of morning fog before clearing to partly cloudy skies.
Isolated morning showers and thundershowers are possible in the extreme south-western Free State.
Mpumalanga and Limpopo will see partly cloudy and cool to warm weather, with isolated showers and rain expected in the Lowveld and eastern escarpment regions.
KwaZulu-Natal will begin with morning fog over the interior before becoming partly cloudy and cool to warm, with isolated showers and rain mainly confined to the north-eastern parts of the province.
Motorists travelling through the Cape provinces and the Eastern Cape are advised to remain alert for sudden thunderstorms, reduced visibility, ponding of water on roads and strong, gusty winds throughout Thursday.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za