Level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall and flooding in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday

By Staff Writer
Published: 15 April 2025 [updated 16 April]

This forecast is for: Wed 16 April 2025
The maps cover: Wed 16 Apr – Fri 18 Apr

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Partly cloudy and cool, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over the central & eastern parts of the country, but widespread over KwaZulu-Natal with a possibility of localised flooding and light snow over the Drakensberg mountains, according to the SA Weather Service.

A surface high pressure system ridges over the eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, supported by a weak cut-off low over the southern part of South Africa that extends a low pressure along the east coast resulting in widespread showers and rain but scattered in the north-east.

SEE ALSO: Snow possible in Lesotho and South Africa from Tuesday.

Warnings from the SA Weather Service for Wednesday:

Late on Wednesday evening a yellow level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall was issued for parts of KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in flooding of roads and settlements and damage to bridges, displacement of affected communities and danger to life due to fast flowing deep water, major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads flooding or closure and disruption to essential services. Areas included in the warning are Ethekwini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Ndwedwe, Ray Nkonyeni, Richmond, The Msunduzi, Ubuhlebezwe, Umdoni, uMshwathi and Umzumbe.

A. yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall resulting in flooding of roads and settlements (formal and informal) and major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded or closed is expected over most parts of KwaZulu-Natal except in the north-east.

B. yellow level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall resulting in heavy downpours which will lead to flooding of susceptible areas, roads and bridges, localized damage to properties and temporal disruptions of municipal services is expected along the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.

Regional forecasts from SAWS for Wednesday:

1. GAUTENG
Partly cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers.
The expected UVB sunburn index: High

2. MPUMALANGA
Morning fog in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers, but isolated along the escarpment and in the Lowveld.

3. LIMPOPO
Morning fog in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the south-west.

4. NORTH-WEST PROVINCE
Morning fog patches in places in the west, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm, with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the east.

5. FREE STATE
Morning fog patches in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered over the eastern parts.

6. NORTHERN CAPE
Morning fog patches in the east, otherwise fine and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers in the extreme north-eastern parts. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong southerly to south-easterly.

7. WESTERN CAPE
Morning fog in places over the southern parts, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm but fine in the western parts. It will clear over the Central Karoo in the evening. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly, but light to moderate westerly along the south coast, where it will become light to moderate easterly to south-easterly from the afternoon.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Low

8. WESTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Cloudy along the coast with isolated showers and rain in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy and cool. The wind along the coast will be light and variable in the morning, becoming moderate south-easterly.

9. EASTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Cloudy and cool with isolated to scattered showers and rain, but widespread along the Wild Coast. The wind along the coast will be light and variable in the morning and evening, otherwise moderate easterly to south-easterly.

10. KWAZULU-NATAL
Morning fog in places, otherwise cloudy and cold to cool with widespread showers and thundershowers but scattered in the north-eastern parts where it will be warm. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly, becoming strong from the afternoon.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate

Travellers forecasts from SAWS for Wednesday:

PRETORIA
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 13/22°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: High

JOHANNESBURG
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 12/21°C

VEREENIGING
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 12/21°C

MBOMBELA
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 17/26°C

POLOKWANE
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 15/24°C

MAHIKENG
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 13/24°C

VRYBURG
Morning fog patches, otherwise partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 12/24°C

BLOEMFONTEIN
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 08/20°C

KIMBERLEY
Morning fog patches, otherwise partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 11/21°C

UPINGTON
Morning fog patches, otherwise fine.
Minimum/Maximum: 11/26°C

CAPE TOWN
Fine.
Wind: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/21°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Low

GEORGE
Partly cloudy.
Wind: Light and variable.
Minimum/Maximum: 11/19°C

GQEBERHA
Cloudy with isolated showers and rain in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy.
Wind: Light and variable in the morning, becoming moderate south-easterly.
Minimum/Maximum: 14/20°C

EAST LONDON
Cloudy with scattered showers and rain.
Wind: Light and variable, becoming moderate easterly by the afternoon.
Minimum/Maximum: 15/21°C

DURBAN
Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers.
Wind: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly, becoming strong in the afternoon.
Minimum/Maximum: 18/23°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate

RICHARDS BAY
Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers.
Wind: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly, becoming strong in the afternoon.
Minimum/Maximum: 18/24°C

PIETERMARITZBURG
Morning fog, otherwise cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 13/19°C

This forecast is usually updated a few times per day.

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