South Africans can expect a mixed Heritage Day weather picture on Thursday, with extremely high fire danger conditions forecast in parts of Limpopo while isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected across several provinces.
The South African Weather Service has issued no impact-based severe weather warnings for Thursday, but has warned of extremely high fire danger conditions over the Musina and Thulamela municipalities in Limpopo.
Rainfall is expected to remain isolated, with about a 30% chance of rain across the affected areas.
Thunderstorms forecast across eastern South Africa
Limpopo will be partly cloudy and warm to hot, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms over southern and central areas during the afternoon. The fire warning will, however, affect Musina and Thulamela, where conditions are expected to be particularly conducive to fires.
Mpumalanga will start the day with patches of morning fog in southern areas before becoming partly cloudy and cool, although warmer conditions are forecast for the Lowveld. A 30% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms is expected.
KwaZulu-Natal will also see morning fog over the interior before partly cloudy and warm conditions give way to increased cloud during the afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms, carrying a 30% chance of rain, are expected.
The eastern half of the Eastern Cape will be cloudy with morning fog in places before becoming partly cloudy and cool to warm. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast, giving affected areas a 30% chance of rain.
Gauteng stays dry and warm
Gauteng is expected to escape the rain, with partly cloudy and warm conditions forecast for Thursday. The UVB sunburn index will be high.
The North West will also remain dry, with fine and warm weather expected throughout the day.
The Free State will be partly cloudy and warm, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the south and along the Lesotho border.
Isolated storms reach Northern and Western Cape
The Northern Cape will be partly cloudy over western and southern areas, where isolated showers and thunderstorms will bring a 30% chance of rain. Elsewhere, conditions will be fine and cool to warm, becoming hot in northern areas.
The Western Cape will experience cloudy conditions and morning fog over western and southern areas before becoming partly cloudy and cool to warm. Hot weather is expected along the West Coast, while the extreme north-eastern parts of the province have a 30% chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms.
The Western Cape’s UVB sunburn index is expected to be very high.
In the western half of the Eastern Cape, cloudy conditions, fog and light morning rain are expected along the coast and adjacent interior east of Cape St Francis.
Conditions will otherwise become fine and warm, although temperatures will remain cooler along the coast.
Overall, the rainfall outlook shows isolated thunderstorms stretching across parts of the country’s east and south, while large areas of the central and north-western interior are expected to remain dry on Thursday.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
