Hot in the west for Christmas, but then widespread rain possible from Thursday

24 December 2024 [updated 25 December]
By Staff Writer

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

Extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions are expected over the West Coast, Cape Winelands, Central and Little Karoo districts of the Western Cape, the Kamiesberg municipality in the Northern Cape, as well as the western parts of the Eastern Cape on a Christmas Day, according to the SA Weather Service.

Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over the central and eastern areas of the country as well as along the south coast, with drizzle along the escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Weather for the Day of Goodwill includes isolated showers and thundershowers over most parts of the country, except for the north-eastern and south-western regions.

Warnings from the SA Weather Service for Wednesday:

A. yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges as well as large amounts of small hail over an open area are expected over the western parts of North-West, north-eastern parts of Northern Cape and over the north-western parts of Free State.

B. yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds leading to difficulty in navigation at sea is expected between Cape Columbine and Hermanus.

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the western and southern parts of Northern Cape, the north-western parts of the Eastern Cape as well as the western and northern parts of the Western Cape.

Regional forecasts from SAWS for Wednesday:

1. GAUTENG
Cloudy and cool but warm in the north with isolated showers and thundershowers.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate

2. MPUMALANGA
Cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers with drizzle in places along the escarpment. It will be warm in the Lowveld.

3. LIMPOPO
Cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers with drizzle in places along the Escarpment.

4. NORTH WEST
Morning fog patches in the east, otherwise partly cloudy, windy, and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers.

5. FREE STATE
Morning fog patches in the east, otherwise partly cloudy, windy, and warm to hot with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.

6. NORTHERN CAPE
Fine in the west, otherwise partly cloudy, windy, and hot to very hot, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over the eastern parts. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong south to south-easterly.

7. WESTERN CAPE
Fine and hot to very hot. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong easterly to south-easterly along the southern coast, but gale south-easterly along the south-west, otherwise moderate to fresh southerly.
The expected UVB sunburn index: Extreme

8. WESTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Morning fog over the interior, otherwise fine and very hot to extremely hot, but warm to hot along the coast. It will become partly cloudy with isolated afternoon thunderstorms in the north-east. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly, but fresh to strong south-easterly during the afternoon.

9. EASTERN HALF OF THE EASTERN CAPE
Cloudy with fog and drizzle in places south of the escarpment in the morning and evening, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with isolated afternoon thunderstorms, but hot in the west. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly, becoming fresh to strong from late morning.

10. KWAZULU-NATAL
Morning fog over the interior, otherwise cloudy and warm with morning showers and rain. It will become partly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered in the extreme west. The wind along the coast will be the wind along the coast will be moderate south-easterly north of Richards Bay, otherwise moderate to fresh easterly to north-easterly.
The expected UVB sunburn index: High

Travellers forecasts from SAWS for Wednesday:

To be updated when it becomes available. Temperatures for various regions are on the map below.

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

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