Gauteng residents warned to brace for severe thunderstorms and possible flooding

Picture of Faizel Patel

By Faizel Patel

Senior Journalist


The weather service also warned of severe thunderstorms associated with flooding of roads and settlements, as well as damage or loss of infrastructure, property, vehicles, livelihoods, and livestock, especially over the Free State and North West.


Gauteng residents have been warned to brace for severe thunderstorms in Gauteng on Wednesday.

The adverse weather conditions come as many residents are returning to the province after the Easter weekend break.

Severe weather

According to regional weather forecaster Gauteng Weather, the province will experience severe thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours and possible flooding in several areas.

“Alert: The SA Weather Service has issued a warning for the possibility of severe thunderstorms in central and Southern Gauteng on Wednesday,” Gauteng Weather said.

Gauteng

Residents of Gauteng can expect warm weather conditions in the north, otherwise it will be cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers, but widespread in the south-west.

ALSO READ: SA Weather Service warns of below average rainfall raising concerns of water availability

Cold weather

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Services (Saws) has warned that a cut-off low (COL) system is expected to make landfall over the western interior of South Africa on Wednesday, 23 April 2025.

This weather pattern is expected to move slowly eastwards and is likely to exit the country by Saturday.

“Scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers are expected over the central and eastern parts
of the country, with rainfall accumulations exceeding 50 mm in the eastern regions on Wednesday and
Thursday, 23 and 24 April 2025.

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Snow

The weather service also warned of severe thunderstorms associated with flooding of roads and settlements, as well as damage or loss of infrastructure, property, vehicles, livelihoods, and livestock, especially over the Free State and North West.

“There is also a distinct possibility of damaging hail occurring in association with the
thunderstorms.

“Snowfalls are also likely over the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern
Cape during this period.

“Moreover, daytime temperatures are also expected to drop significantly from
Wednesday onwards, across most parts of the country, with a gradual recovery from Friday onwards,” the weather service said.

ALSO READ: ‘It looked like the Vaal River coming down’: Joburg residents pick up the pieces after floods [VIDEO]

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