Weather alert: Severe thunderstorms set to lash five provinces

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has released its latest weather forecast for Tuesday, 8 April 2025.

The weather service warns of severe thunderstorms and flooding in Northern Cape, Free State, and North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. Damage to infrastructure and risk to livestock and homes expected. Here’s what you need to know.

Weather update for today and tomorrow, 07-08 April 2025:
Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in most parts of the country but widespread over the central interior today, spreading to the southern parts tomorrow.⚠️Severe thunderstorms and disruptive rainfall.#SAWS pic.twitter.com/Duug7oLdPN

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) April 7, 2025

Weather warnings, Tuesday, 8 April

Impact-based warnings

The weather service has issued a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to damage or loss of infrastructure, settlements (formal and informal), property, vehicles, livelihoods and livestock over the Northern Cape, western parts of the North West and the Free State.

Saws also issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, as well as localised damage to settlements, which is expected over the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the northern and extreme western parts of the Eastern Cape.

ALSO READ: ‘Severe’ thunderstorms to hit parts of South Africa

Provincial weather forecast

Here’s what to expect in your province on Tuesday, 8 April:

Gauteng:

Residents of Gauteng can expect cloudy and cool weather with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers. It will be partly cloudy and warm in the north.

The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “very high”.

Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.

Mpumalanga:

Mpumalanga residents can expect morning fog along the escarpment; otherwise, conditions will be partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, except in the Lowveld, where it will be hot.

Limpopo:

The day will start with morning fog over the central parts; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers in the south. It will be hot in the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley.

North West:

Cloudy and cool to warm weather awaits North West residents with widespread shower and thundershowers but isolated to scattered in the east.

Free State:

Residents of the Free State will experience cloudy and cool to warm conditions with widespread showers and thundershowers but isolated to scattered in the east.

Northern Cape:

The day will start with morning fog along the coast; otherwise, it will be cloudy and cool to warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers but widespread in the southeast and northeast. The wind along the coast will be moderate northwesterly.

Western Cape:

Western Cape residents can expect morning and evening fog patches along the west and southwest coast; otherwise, it will be cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers but widespread over the South coast and adjacent interior.

The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “very high”.

Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.

Eastern Cape (western half):

It will be cloudy and cool to warm with widespread showers and thundershowers but scattered in the southeast.

Eastern Cape (eastern half):

The day will start with morning fog in places; otherwise, it will be cloudy and warm with scattered showers and thundershowers, but widespread in the north, where it will be cool.

KwaZulu-Natal:

Residents of KwaZulu-Natal can look forward to morning fog in places over the interior; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm but cool in the southwest with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in areas in the south.

The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “very high”.

Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.