South Africans are in for a wet and turbulent Friday, with widespread rain, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and disruptive snow forecast across large parts of the country.
The South African Weather Service has issued several impact-based warnings for Friday, September 18, including an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rain along the KwaZulu-Natal coast and adjacent interior up to Richards Bay.
The highest chances of rain are stretching across central and eastern South Africa. An 80% chance of widespread rain and thunderstorms is forecast across parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and eastern Northern Cape.
A 60% chance of scattered rain extends across other parts of the central and southern interior, while isolated showers with a 30% chance are expected in parts of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape and southern areas.
KwaZulu-Natal faces highest flood threat
KwaZulu-Natal is expected to bear the brunt of the severe weather, with widespread showers and thundershowers and an 80% chance of rain across large parts of the province.
An Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rain is in place along the coast and adjacent interior up to Richards Bay. The weather service warned that flooding of roads and formal and informal settlements could occur, with fast-flowing streams and deep water posing a danger to life.
The conditions could also lead to the displacement of communities and losses of livelihoods and livestock.
A Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rain covers the eastern and southern parts of the province, while severe thunderstorms are also possible in the north-west.
Eastern Cape braces for flooding and snow
The Eastern Cape faces a combination of heavy rain, flooding and snowfall as temperatures plunge.
An Orange Level 5 warning for disruptive rain has been issued for the Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Ntabankulu municipalities. Flooding of settlements, roads and bridges and disruption to essential services are possible.
A Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain is also in place for coastal areas and the adjacent interior between KuGompo City and Port St Johns.
The eastern half of the province will be very cold, with snowfall forecast over the north-eastern high ground. A Yellow Level 2 disruptive snow warning has been issued for the Matatiele and Elundini municipalities, where difficult driving conditions and isolated losses of vulnerable livestock are possible.
Rain chances reach 80% in parts of the eastern province, while scattered rain with a 60% chance extends across other areas.
Severe thunderstorms over central interior
The Northern Cape, Free State and surrounding areas are also in line for significant thunderstorms.
An 80% chance of widespread thunderstorms is forecast over parts of the eastern Northern Cape and Free State, with a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms over the extreme east-central Northern Cape.
Heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail are possible, with localised flooding and damage to infrastructure among the anticipated impacts.
A Yellow Level 2 severe thunderstorm warning extends across the eastern Northern Cape, western Free State and north-western KwaZulu-Natal.
The Free State will be cloudy, windy and cold to cool, with scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms.
Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are in for rain
Gauteng will be cloudy in the south and partly cloudy elsewhere, with cool to warm temperatures and isolated showers and thundershowers. Rain chances are around 30% in parts of the province.
Mpumalanga will be cloudy and cool to cold, with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Limpopo will be cloudy in the east and partly cloudy elsewhere, with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected mainly in the south and east.
The North West will be warm but increasingly unsettled, with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms and widespread storms in the extreme south-west.
Damaging winds threaten Northern and Western Cape
Strong winds will add to the hazardous conditions in the west.
A Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds has been issued for southern and western parts of the Northern Cape and northern parts of the Western Cape. Localised damage to settlements, interruptions to electricity and communications and difficult driving conditions are possible.
The Western Cape will be partly cloudy and cool, becoming cloudy and cold in the east, where morning rain is expected in the extreme eastern areas. Near-gale south-easterly winds are forecast along the west coast.
Very cold and wet conditions are also expected over high-lying parts of the Eastern Cape and south-western KwaZulu-Natal.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za