Overview
- SAWS, which upgraded its guidance on Thursday, warned that severe thunderstorms in the North West could bring damaging winds, hail, intense lightning and heavy downpours that trigger flooding and infrastructure damage.
- Forecasters also flagged severe storms for Gauteng, parts of the Northern Cape and sections of Limpopo, with risks to low-lying areas, roads and bridges where water can rise quickly.
- Coastal advisories highlight damaging winds and high waves from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay and from Oyster Bay to Algoa Bay, with expected short disruptions to ports, small harbours and beachfront activity and difficult navigation at sea.
- Johannesburg police and Tshwane emergency officials urged drivers to slow down, keep headlights on and avoid water-covered roads, noting fast flood potential along routes near the Jukskei, Hennops and Apies rivers.
- SAWS expects the wet, cool pattern to hold through the week before easing over the weekend, and it noted a very high UVB index once skies break, which calls for sun protection during clearer spells.