WARNING: Brace for thunderstorms and possible hail

The South African Weather Service has issued a hailstorm warning this afternoon, 27 October.

The press statement released by the service indicates severe thunderstorms with possible hail, strong winds and heavy downpours in Gauteng.

“Following a succession of hot to very hot spells during recent weeks over the eastern parts of the country, including a heat wave in the lowveld areas; all is set to change quite dramatically with the passage of a cold front, immediately followed by a strong ridge of high pressure from [Friday],” the statement reads.

Please be advised about the following *WATCH* for severe thunderstorms today: pic.twitter.com/2EPNNELpmQ

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) October 27, 2017

Earlier

The SA Weather Service has issued a warning that severe storms were expected in Gauteng on Friday, 27 October.

Watch: 27/10/2017 12h00-23h00 Severe Thunderstorms with heavy downpours expected in places over Gauteng from the afternoon.

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) October 26, 2017

Severe storms are also expected in the highveld areas of Mpumalanga as well as south-western and southern parts of Limpopo province on Friday.

A statement issued by the SA Weather Service read, “At this stage, the predominant risk is expected to be strong gusty winds as well as heavy downpours, which may result in instances of urban flooding.

“Whilst hail may occur here and there, such occurrences are expected to be mostly of a small, non-damaging nature.”

ALSO READ: Heavy downpours could lead to road flooding, warns SA Weather Service

The SA Weather Service warned that the ‘succession of hot to very hot spells during recent weeks over the eastern parts of the country’ would change ‘dramatically’ as a cold front sweeps through the country.

“Light snowfalls can also be expected on mountain peaks of the eastern parts of Western Cape and Eastern Cape overnight, spreading to the southern Drakensberg and Lesotho on Friday,” said the weather service, which added ‘chilly conditions’ were expected in many part of the country over the weekend.

Temperatures should be warmer from Monday.

Here’s a satellite image of the thunderstorms developing in the north-east part of the country, as shared by the SA Weather Service on Twitter:

26 October 2017- Your late afternoon satellite image. Some thunderstorms developing in the north-east. Cloudy and rainy in eastern KZN. pic.twitter.com/wAO73fdcAe

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) October 26, 2017

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Standard Insurance Limited previously offered the following advice that may help to keep community members and their property safe during storms.

• Ensure electrical equipment is disconnected from sockets during storms to avoid electrical-surge damage
• Check that roofs do not have broken or loose tiles that will allow the entry of water
• Check your property for any loose material and tie down (or fill with water) all large, relatively light items, such as boats and rubbish bins
• Ensure that roof gutters are clean and unclogged, so water does not seep onto ceilings
• Keep house windows shut to prevent them being hit by hail or shattered by high winds.

If you’re driving, Standard Insurance Limited suggests the following:

• Ensure your vehicles’ fuel tanks are full
• Reduce speed and increase following distance to a three-car distance
• Turn headlights on so you can be seen by other motorists
• In need, pull off the road safely and activate your car’s hazard lights
• Don’t park under trees, as there is a risk of falling branches and debris
• Ensure windscreen wipers are in good condition, so they can cope with sudden downpours
• Never get out of your vehicle, because of possible injury from hailstones
• Don’t attempt to drive through water washing across the road, or across low-water bridges; it requires only about 15cm of rapidly moving water to wash away a car.

When the storms hit, remember to share your photos with us in the comments section