Overview
- South African Weather Service issued an orange level 6 alert for severe thunderstorms over the western Free State, western North West and the northeastern Northern Cape.
- The agency warns the storms could damage homes, roads, vehicles and power lines, threaten livestock, injure people and cause major travel disruption.
- Yellow level 4 alerts cover the central and eastern Free State, the central North West and the central interior of the Northern Cape for heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms.
- A separate yellow level 1 coastal warning between Richards Bay and Kosi Bay in KwaZulu-Natal flags damaging wind and waves that could hinder navigation and disrupt small harbours.
- Northern Cape police advise residents, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities, to watch water levels, avoid low-water bridges and move to higher ground if flooding starts.