Motorists in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo could face difficult driving conditions on Thursday morning as low cloud and fog reduce visibility, while extremely high fire danger is forecast for parts of the Northern Cape and North West.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for reduced visibility in affected areas of the three north-eastern provinces. The warning is valid from midnight until 9.59am on Thursday.
According to the weather service, low cloud bases could significantly reduce visibility in isolated and fog-prone areas.
It warned that the conditions could make driving difficult, increasing the risk of road accidents and resulting in longer travel times.
Fire danger threatens Northern Cape and North West
While motorists in the north-east contend with poor visibility, extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places over the north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape and the Greater Taung Local Municipality in North West.
Conditions conducive to rapidly spreading fires mean residents in affected areas should exercise caution.
The Northern Cape will otherwise be fine and warm to hot, although cooler conditions are expected in places in the west. Partly cloudy and windy weather is forecast in the east during the afternoon.
North West will be cloudy in the east initially before becoming fine and warm to hot, with partly cloudy conditions developing during the afternoon.
Fog and drizzle for north-eastern provinces
Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and warm conditions on Thursday, with a high UVB sunburn index.
Mpumalanga will be cloudy along the escarpment, where drizzle is possible, while morning fog is forecast over the eastern Highveld. The rest of the province will be partly cloudy and warm.
Limpopo will similarly experience cloudy conditions, with a chance of drizzle and morning fog patches along the escarpment before partly cloudy and warm weather dominates elsewhere.
The rainfall outlook indicates a 30% chance of isolated rainfall over parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with most of the country expected to remain dry.
Warm conditions across central South Africa
The Free State will be cloudy in the east at first before becoming fine, windy and warm. Partly cloudy conditions are expected to develop during the afternoon.
KwaZulu-Natal will experience morning fog patches over the interior, followed by partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions. Coastal winds are expected to become moderate to fresh easterly to north-easterly and could become strong north of Durban at times.
The province faces an extreme UVB sunburn index.
Fine weather for Cape provinces
The Western Cape is forecast to be fine and cool to warm, although partly cloudy conditions are expected along the south-east coast during the evening. The UVB sunburn index will be very high.
Morning fog is expected in places over the interior of the western half of the Eastern Cape before fine and warm conditions set in.
The eastern half of the Eastern Cape will also experience morning fog in places along the escarpment, followed by fine and warm weather.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
