More rainfall expected over the weekend

There is a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers in Gauteng on Saturday, increasing to 60% on Sunday, mainly in the southern parts of the province.

Speaking to Saturday Citizen on Friday, South African Weather Service forecaster Wayne Venter said there is an increased likelihood of rain over the entire province as of Wednesday next week.

“The southern parts include Johannesburg and Vereeniging.

“We expected daytime temperatures to remain in the warm to hot categories for the northern parts this weekend.

“Cooling is expected mostly in the south,” Venter said.

Limpopo and Mpumalanga are expected to be cloudy for most of this weekend. These provinces have been getting a lot of rainfall recently.

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“There is a small possibility of morning drizzle along the northern escarpment of Limpopo.

“Similar conditions can be expected later on Saturday evening in places such as Standerton and Piet Retief in Mpumalanga.

“The possibility of drizzle for the two provinces remains for Sunday,” Venter said.

In North West, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall over the western parts of the province.

“We are giving it an 80% chance of showers and thundershowers for areas such as Toska, Vryburg and Bloemhof.

“The chances decrease to 60% for Sunday for the entire province.

“In the Free State, residents in the central and western parts can also expect an 80% chance of showers and there is a 60% chance elsewhere in the province,” he said.

Daytime temperatures there are also expected to be in the cool category. Residents in the southwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal have a 60% chance of getting showers today,  going up to 80% tomorrow.

In the Eastern Cape, there is a 60% chance of showers in some areas, but in the central and eastern parts of the province, which include Barkley West and Aliwal North, it’s up to 80%.

There is an 80% possibility of heavy downpours in the Northern Cape on Saturday in the eastern parts which include areas such as Kuruman and Kimberly.

Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist in the Western Cape.

Local authorities there have expressed concern that dams might sink to the alarmingly low level of 20%.

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