Level 3 warning: Disruptive rain to hit parts of Western Cape from Wednesday

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 3 warning for disruptive rain over the south-western parts of the Western Cape from Wednesday evening.

“A cold front associated with an intense upper ait system is expected to result in heavy rain and showers over the south-western parts of the Western Cape. The bulk of the rainfall is expected on Thursday morning,” warned the weather service.

The cold front with a potent upper air support is expected to make landfall on Thursday in the province.

According to the weather service, day time temperatures are expected to drop significantly on Thursday into Friday over the Western Cape extending to the Eastern Cape.

Maximum temperatures may be below 10C in places over the southern high-lying areas of the Namakwa region of the Northern Cape and over the interior of the Western Cape.

ALSO READ: ‘Intense’ cold front to hit parts of SA this week

On Wednesday, extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Dawid Kruiper, Kai !Garib and !Kheis Local Municipalities of the Northern Cape.

“Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human or animal life,” warned the weather service.

Wednesday’s weather forecast

Gauteng: Morning fog patches in the south, otherwise fine and cool. The expected UVB sunburn index: high.

Mpumalanga: Partly cloudy with morning fog patches over the Highveld, otherwise fine and cool but warm in the Lowveld.

Limpopo: Partly cloudy with morning fog patches over the Limpopo Valley and the central parts, otherwise fine and cool to warm.

North West: Fine and cool to warm weather.

Free State: Fine and cool to warm weather.

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Northern Cape: Cloudy with morning fog patches along the coast, becoming partly cloudy, otherwise fine, windy and cool to warm. The wind along the coast will be Light and variable, becoming moderate to fresh northerly to north-westerly.

Western Cape: Morning fog patches along the west-coast and south-coast, except over the extreme eastern parts, otherwise partly cloudy, becoming fine, windy and cool, except over the extreme south-western parts, where it will be cold in places becoming cloudy during the evening with isolated to scattered rain.

It will be warm over the Karoo regions. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate northerly to north-westerly, but fresh to strong along the south-west coast, while light and variable along the south-coast in the afternoon. The expected UVB sunburn index: moderate.

Western half of the Eastern Cape: Cool weather in places in the south, otherwise partly cloudy and warm, becoming fine in the afternoon. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly, but north-westerly early morning and again from the evening.

ALSO READ: Cold front alert: Temperatures expected to drop below 10°C in parts of Western Cape

Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine weather in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cool. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-westerly, but north-easterly in the afternoon.

KwaZulu-Natal: Fine and cool but warm weather in the north-east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh north-easterly. The expected UVB sunburn index: high.