Weather alert: Thunderstorms to hit Gauteng, Limpopo and KZN this weekend

A volatile weekend of weather is on the cards as a band of severe thunderstorms sweeps across the central and eastern parts of South Africa.

The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for Saturday, highlighting the risk of heavy downpours, localised flooding of vulnerable roads and low-lying areas, dangerous hail, and strong winds.

The warning zone stretches from the Limpopo interior through Gauteng and into KwaZulu-Natal, placing several major towns and transport routes under heightened concern.

Saturday’s rainfall outlook reinforces the threat, with widespread rain likely across a broad swath of the central and eastern interior.

Rainfall probabilities climb to 60% over Gauteng, Mpumalanga and parts of Limpopo, with isolated to scattered showers extending westward into the North West and the Free State.

Communities in these regions should brace for sudden changes in weather, reduced visibility on the roads, and possible travel disruptions.

By Sunday, the unsettled conditions intensify across the eastern half of the country. Moisture-rich air flowing in from the Indian Ocean fuels another round of showers and thunderstorms, with the heaviest activity expected over the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Rain chances reach 80% in the southeastern interior, while widespread 60% chances stretch northward through the Free State and into Mpumalanga.

Temperatures cool noticeably in the east under thick cloud cover and persistent rainfall, while the western interior remains hot to very hot under clearer skies.

With two days of potentially disruptive storms ahead, residents are urged to stay weather-aware, avoid low-lying routes during heavy rain, secure loose outdoor items and monitor updates from the South African Weather Service throughout the weekend.

IOL News