Heavy thunderstorms likely to continue this week

The severe thunderstorms and intense lightning experienced in the south of Johannesburg on Friday night can still be expected anytime this week, the South African Weather Service warned yesterday.

Forecaster Jan Vermeulen advised residents to stay indoors, inside their cars and far away from open fields and tall trees.

Looking ahead, Vermeulen said residents in most parts of the country could expect rainfall for the better part of this week.

“In the northern, northeastern parts and southeastern parts of the country, residents can expect a greater chance of 60% showers and thundershowers for most of this week.

“In Gauteng, we are still giving it a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers,” he said.

He said no alerts had been issued as yet.

While most parts would experience rainfall, the bad news for those in the Western Cape was that not much rain was expected. The Western Cape had been hit hard by the dry conditions.

Several municipalities in the province had also tightened water restrictions to level 3B.

The restrictions, particularly in Cape Town, come as a result of the severe drought being experienced and the repeated failure to reach the intended water savings target of 800 million litres of water use per day.

Watering/irrigation (with municipal drinking water) of flower beds, lawns, vegetables and other plants, sports fields, parks and other open spaces is allowed only on Tuesdays and Saturdays before 9am or after 6pm for a maximum of one hour per day per property and only by bucket or watering can.

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