Severe thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds are expected to hit parts of South Africa on Wednesday, with the South African Weather Service issuing an Orange Level 5 warning for areas of the Northern Cape and Western Cape.
The warning is in place for the Hantam and Karoo Hoogland districts in the Northern Cape and the Central Karoo District in the Western Cape, where storms could pose a danger to life and cause damage to infrastructure, homes and vehicles.
Forecasters said a cut-off low-pressure system developing over the western parts of the country will drive the severe weather.
The thunderstorms are expected to bring large amounts of small hail, excessive lightning and gusty winds of between 40 and 55 kilometres per hour.
The weather service warned that hail could damage vehicles and infrastructure, while difficult driving conditions could result in major travel disruptions. Livestock and agricultural production could also be affected, along with essential services.
Yellow warning stretches across several provinces
A Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms has also been issued for a much broader area, including parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
These areas face the risk of heavy downpours, localised flooding, excessive lightning, hail and damage to infrastructure and vehicles.
The Western Cape will be cloudy and cool to warm, with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall probabilities are expected to reach about 60% across much of the province, while isolated rainfall of around 30% is expected along parts of the West Coast.
The Northern Cape will be partly cloudy and cool to warm, with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Rain chances are around 30% across much of the province, increasing to about 60% in southern areas.
Widespread rain chances across the country
The Eastern Cape is expected to see some of the wettest conditions, with scattered showers and thunderstorms across both the western and eastern halves of the province. Rain chances are around 60% across large parts of the province.
KwaZulu-Natal will start with morning fog over the interior before becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for most areas, with isolated storms in the extreme north-east. Rain chances are around 60% across the southern and western parts of the province.
Gauteng will be partly cloudy and cool to warm, with isolated showers and thunderstorms and a rain probability of around 30%.
Mpumalanga will have morning fog in southern areas before partly cloudy conditions set in, with isolated showers and thunderstorms and rain chances of around 30%.
The North West will also have around a 30% chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms, while the Free State can expect isolated storms across much of the province and scattered activity in the extreme south and east.
Limpopo will be partly cloudy and warm, with isolated showers and thunderstorms confined mainly to the extreme south-western parts of the province.
No fire danger warnings or weather advisories have been issued for Wednesday.
IOL News
Wendy Jasson Da Costa
iol.co.za