Warning: Severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and a chilly weekend in store for Gauteng

Gauteng residents are encouraged to break-out their woolly clothes and keep warm as a cold front is predicted to hit the province this weekend, reports the Germiston City News.

The South African Weather Service has warned Johannesburg residents to prepare for a significant drop in temperatures from Friday evening.

Temperatures in Gauteng are predicted to drop to as low as 16 degrees and will remain in the teens for the weekend returning to the low twenties by Monday.

In addition to this the weather service is warning of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds, from midday to midnight today (Friday).

Full list of warnings:

• Severe Thunderstorms

Severe thunderstorms with strong winds, hail and heavy downpours are possible over parts of Gauteng, which may lead to localised flooding.

• Damaging Winds

Strong winds are expected in places of Gauteng, mainly during the afternoon.

People living in informal settlements have been urged to be careful when keeping warm, while pet owners are urged to ensure their animals have appropriate shelter during this time.

Some simple tips on how to stay warm this weekend:

• Warm yourself first – It’s easier to change your body temperature than room temperature, not to mention more eco-friendly. Instead of turning up the heat, put on another layer of clothing.
• Wear a hat – Your mom may have said that you lose 80 per cent of your body heat through your head, but that’s not actually true. If you’re otherwise clothed, you’ll lose heat from any surface that’s exposed. So put on your hat, even if you’re inside.
• Switch between hot and cold water in the shower – Hot showers immediately warm you up, but cold showers improve blood circulation between your skin and organs, they are also correlated with a stronger immune system.