South Africans can expect a mix of scorching temperatures, isolated thunderstorms and partly cloudy conditions on Friday, with several provinces facing hot to very hot weather.
According to the South African Weather Service, showers and thundershowers are expected across parts of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Free State, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, while much of the Western and Eastern Cape will remain dry.
Despite the expected rainfall, the weather service has issued no impact-based severe weather warnings, fire danger warnings or advisories for Friday.
Gauteng braces for thunderstorms and hot conditions
Gauteng residents can expect partly cloudy and warm conditions, with temperatures rising to hot levels in the northern parts of the province.
Showers and thundershowers are forecast across the province, bringing the possibility of rainfall during the day.
The weather service has also warned of a high ultraviolet sunburn index, with residents advised to take precautions against prolonged exposure to the sun.
In Mpumalanga, the day will begin with fine conditions and fog along the escarpment before becoming partly cloudy and warm to hot.
Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the western Highveld and along the escarpment, while the Lowveld will experience very hot temperatures.
Limpopo will also experience a hot Friday, with morning fog over the interior giving way to partly cloudy skies.
Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected in the central and southern parts of the province, while temperatures will climb to very hot levels in some eastern areas.
Thunderstorms expected across central South Africa
The North West will experience fine conditions early in the day before skies become partly cloudy, with warm to hot temperatures and isolated showers and thundershowers.
Similar conditions are expected in the Free State, where fine weather will give way to partly cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms across much of the province.
However, the southern parts of the Free State are expected to remain dry.
In the Northern Cape, morning fog patches are forecast along the coast, where temperatures will remain cool.
The rest of the province will experience fine and warm to hot conditions, although isolated showers and thundershowers are expected in the north-east.
Moderate to fresh south-easterly winds are forecast along the Northern Cape coastline.
Western Cape to remain mostly dry as drizzle approaches
The Western Cape will experience mostly fine and warm conditions on Friday, although coastal areas will remain cool.
High-level clouds are expected across the province, with partly cloudy conditions developing over the extreme south-western parts during the morning.
Cloud cover will increase along the south coast from late afternoon, with light drizzle possible over the Overberg during the evening.
Coastal winds will be moderate to fresh north to north-westerly, becoming strong along the south-west coast during the morning.
Winds are expected to shift to south to south-westerly during the afternoon, with south-easterly winds developing along the south-west coast in the evening.
The province’s ultraviolet sunburn index is expected to be moderate.
Eastern Cape escapes thunderstorms
The Eastern Cape will largely escape the thunderstorms forecast for other parts of the country.
In the western half of the province, morning fog is expected in places before clearing to fine and warm conditions.
Coastal areas and the adjacent interior will remain cool, with light to moderate south-westerly winds along the coastline.
The eastern half of the province will experience morning fog over parts of the interior, followed by fine and cool to warm conditions.
Light to moderate south-westerly winds are also expected along the eastern coastline.
KwaZulu-Natal faces scorching heat
KwaZulu-Natal is expected to experience some of Friday’s hottest conditions, with temperatures ranging from hot to very hot across much of the province.
The south coast will remain comparatively warm, while morning fog patches are expected over the eastern interior.
Conditions will initially be fine before becoming partly cloudy to cloudy during the afternoon.
Isolated showers and thundershowers are forecast across much of the province, excluding the north-eastern areas.
Coastal winds will begin as light north-westerlies before becoming moderate to fresh north-easterlies in the north.
South to south-westerly winds will develop along the southern coastline and spread northwards from late morning.
The ultraviolet sunburn index will be high.
No severe weather warnings issued
Although isolated thunderstorms are expected across several provinces, the South African Weather Service has not issued any severe weather alerts for Friday.
Its rainfall outlook indicates a 30% probability of rain in several parts of the country, including areas of Gauteng, North West, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the south-western Western Cape.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za