Widespread rain possible this weekend and some warnings on Friday

19 December 2024 [updated 20 December]
By Staff Writer

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A newer forecast is available by clicking here but the various warnings for Friday still apply too.

Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over the central and eastern areas as well as along the south coast from Friday until Sunday.

Mostly cool to warm temperatures can be expected on Friday, but hot in places over the central interior of the country.

According to the SA Weather Service, the eastern part of South Africa is expected to experience increased rainfall over the next few days, with numerical models predicting between 70mm - 150 mm of accumulated rainfall in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern Free State, eastern parts of North West, and the western and southern areas of Limpopo

Warnings from the SA Weather Service for Friday (UPDATED):

A. yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms that will lead to strong damaging winds, large amounts of small hail, heavy downpours leading to localized flooding and damage to infrastructure are expected over the SOUTH- western parts of KwaZulu- Natal and the extreme eastern parts of the Free State.

B. yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds leading to difficulty in navigation at sea and small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing in locality between Alexander Bay to Betty's Bay from the afternoon.

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places over the central and southern parts of the Northern Cape as well as the northern parts of the Western Cape.

Regional forecasts from SAWS for Friday:

1. GAUTENG
Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate

2. MPUMALANGA
Morning fog patches along the escarpment and southern Highveld, otherwise cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers but isolated in the Lowveld where it will be warm.

3. LIMPOPO
Morning fog patches along the escarpment, otherwise cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the south and west.

4. NORTH WEST
Partly cloudy and cool to warm, with scattered showers and thundershowers, but isolated in the western parts.

5. FREE STATE
Morning fog patches in the east, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the extreme east. It will be fine in the extreme west.

6. NORTHERN CAPE
Fine and warm to hot but very hot over in places in the north. It will become partly cloudy in the east with isolated showers and thundershowers in the north-east from the afternoon. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south to south.

7. WESTERN CAPE
Fine in the north, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot but cool along the south coast with isolated light morning and evening showers. The wind along the coast will be light and variable along the south-coast, otherwise moderate to fresh south-westerly to southerly.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Extreme

8. WESTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Morning fog patches in places, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated showers and thundershowers in the north-east. It will become cloudy in the evening along the coast with isolated light rain and showers. The wind along the coast will be light and variable early morning, otherwise moderate to fresh south-westerly.

9. EASTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Morning fog patches and drizzle in places south of the escarpment, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot with scattered showers and thundershowers but isolated in the south-west. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly, but fresh to strong in places from the afternoon. It will become moderate to fresh south-westerly south of Kei Mouth from mid-morning.

10. KWAZULU-NATAL
Morning fog patches in places over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with scattered showers and thundershowers but isolated in the south-east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh easterly to north-easterly, becoming strong in places in the afternoon.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Extreme

Travellers forecasts from SAWS for Friday:

PRETORIA
Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/24°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate

JOHANNESBURG
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/23°C

VEREENIGING
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/26°C

MBOMBELA
Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers
Minimum/Maximum: 19/23°C

POLOKWANE
Cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 17/23°C

MAHIKENG
Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 18/29°C

VRYBURG
Partly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/31°C

BLOEMFONTEIN
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/32°C

KIMBERLEY
Partly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 18/35°C

UPINGTON
Fine becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Minimum/Maximum: 18/37°C

CAPE TOWN
Partly cloudy and windy towards the evening.
Wind: Light to moderate southerly reaching fresh to strong toward the evening.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/26°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Extreme

GEORGE
Partly cloudy with isolated morning and evening light showers.
Minimum/Maximum: 14/24°C

GQEBERHA
Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy in the evening.
Wind: Light and variable early morning, otherwise moderate to fresh south-westerly.
Minimum/Maximum: 17/27°C

EAST LONDON
Partly cloudy with isolated evening showers and thundershowers.
Wind: Light to moderate north-easterly becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly.
Minimum/Maximum: 19/28°C

DURBAN
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and rain.
Wind: Moderate to fresh northerly to north-easterly, becoming strong at times in the afternoon.
Minimum/Maximum: 20/28°C
The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Extreme

RICHARDS BAY
Cloudy with scattered showers and rain.
Wind: Moderate north-easterly.
Minimum/Maximum: 21/29°C

PIETERMARITZBURG
Morning fog, otherwise partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Minimum/Maximum: 16/29°C

This forecast may change and updates issued more than once a day.

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