A powerful weather system will dominate South Africa on Wednesday, bringing widespread rain, dangerous flooding, strong winds, rough seas and snowfall to parts of the country.
The worst conditions are expected across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, where heavy and persistent rainfall will continue to pose a significant threat.
The Eastern Cape faces the highest risk of severe weather, with a 100% chance of rain across parts of the southern and coastal regions. Heavy downpours are expected to cause flooding of roads, bridges and low-lying areas, while fast-flowing rivers and streams could become dangerous.
Areas including Nelson Mandela Bay, Kouga, Koukamma, Sundays River Valley, Buffalo City and surrounding municipalities remain under high-level warnings for disruptive rainfall. Rain chances range from 60% to 100% across much of the province, decreasing towards the far northeast.
The Western Cape will remain cloudy, cold and windy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Rainfall probabilities range from 30% along the west coast to 60% and 80% across the southern interior and Garden Route, increasing to 100% in some southeastern areas.
Flooding of vulnerable settlements, roads and bridges remains a concern, while strong to gale-force south-easterly winds will add to the uncomfortable conditions. Light snowfall is also expected over the higher mountain peaks.
Across the Northern Cape, conditions will be cold, windy and unsettled. Rain chances of 30% are expected over central areas, increasing to 60% in the southeast. No rainfall is expected over the northeastern parts of the province, but light snow is forecast over the southern high-lying terrain.
The Free State will experience a cold to cool day with scattered showers and thundershowers developing, especially over the western and southern parts of the province. Rainfall probabilities range between 30% and 60%, while some high-lying areas could see light snowfall later in the day as colder air spreads across the region.
North West Province can expect partly cloudy and cool conditions with isolated showers and thunderstorms over the southwest. Rain chances remain around 30% in affected areas, while strong winds develop across the western districts.
KwaZulu-Natal will start the day partly cloudy before cloud cover increases from late morning. Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected in the southeast with a 30% chance of rain, while the remainder of the province stays largely dry.
Conditions will remain cool, although the far northeast will stay relatively warm.
Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga will escape the worst of the weather. Gauteng will be fine in the morning before becoming partly cloudy and cool during the afternoon, with no significant rainfall expected.
Limpopo and Mpumalanga will also remain mostly dry, partly cloudy and cool, with warmer conditions persisting in the eastern and Lowveld regions.
In addition to the rain, very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected across large parts of the Free State, North West, the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, southern Northern Cape and much of the Eastern Cape.
Snow is likely over several high-lying areas of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape, with icy roads and travel disruptions possible in mountain passes and elevated terrain.
Along the coast, hazardous marine conditions continue. Strong winds and large waves will create dangerous conditions for small vessels from Cape Point to East London, with rough seas expected to persist through Thursday.
Residents in flood-prone areas of the Western and Eastern Cape are urged to remain alert as the most significant impacts are expected there.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za