The South African Weather Service (Saws) has released its latest weather forecast for Thursday, 5 December 2024.
The weather service has warned of severe thunderstorms and extreme heat, with risks of flooding, hail, damaging winds, and fire dangers across several provinces. Here’s what you need to know.
The weather service has issued a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to damaging winds, excessive lightning, hail, and heavy downpours, which may result in flooding over the northeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Severe thunderstorms leading to localised damages to infrastructure, property, vehicles, and injuries (livelihood and livestock) due to hail, damaging winds, heavy downpours, and excessive lightning are also expected over the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern and central interior of the Eastern Cape, as well as the extreme southern escarpment of Mpumalanga.
Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the North West, the eastern half of the Northern Cape, western parts of the Free State, the northern and western interior of the Eastern Cape, northern parts of Limpopo, northern parts of the Lowveld in Mpumalanga, as well as the extreme northeastern parts of the Western Cape.
A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected over Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, extreme eastern parts of the North West, and the northern and northwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal until at least Friday.
Extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions can be expected in the Lowveld of both Limpopo and Mpumalanga and the Western Bushveld and the Valley of Limpopo until Saturday.
ALSO READ: Severe thunderstorms hit Mpumalanga and KZN, while a heat wave grips Gauteng, Limpopo and more
Here’s what to expect in your province on Thursday, 5 December:
Gauteng:
Residents of Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and hot weather but very hot in the north. Isolated thunderstorms but scattered in the southeast are expected in the afternoon.
The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “high.”
Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
Mpumalanga:
Mpumalanga residents can enjoy fine and warm to hot conditions, but very hot to extremely hot in the Lowveld, becoming partly cloudy with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the afternoon.
Limpopo:
The day will be partly cloudy and hot to very hot but extremely hot in places in the Lowveld and the Limpopo Valley. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected, except in the Lowveld and the northern parts.
North-West province:
Partly cloudy, windy and hot to very hot weather awaits North West residents, with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Free State:
Residents of the Free State will see partly cloudy, windy and warm to hot conditions, with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Northern Cape:
The day will be partly cloudy along the coast and in extreme eastern parts; otherwise, it will be warm to hot but cool to warm in the extreme west.
Western Cape:
Western Cape residents can expect cloudy weather over the western parts at first with light rain in the morning over the south-western parts; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and cool to warm.
The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “extreme.”
Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
Eastern Cape (western half):
There will start with morning fog in places; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated showers and thunderstorms, but scattered in the north-east. It will be cool with light rain in places along the coast.
Eastern Cape (eastern half):
There will be cloudy with fog and drizzle south of the escarpment in the morning and evening; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm with scattered showers and thunderstorms, but isolated in the north-west.
KwaZulu-Natal:
Residents of KwaZulu-Natal can look forward to morning fog patches over the interior; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm to hot but very hot in the north with scattered showers and thundershowers.
The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “high.”
Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
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