Rainy days expected for Mbombela leading up to Christmas
The SAWS has predicted some relief from the extreme heat for the eastern parts of the country.
Large parts of South Africa’s inland have experienced an intense heatwave over the first half of December.
According to the SAWS, the heatwave resulted in several new temperature records, both maximum and minimum, across various provinces.
@lowvelder It is lashing down in Mbombela. The SAWS predicted that isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over the escarpment of Mpumalanga today, Monday, December 9. #thunderstorm #storm #mpumalangastorm #severeweather > Video: Bertus de Bruyn,Lowvelder
“In addition to the extreme heat, the central and eastern interior of the country has seen significantly less rainfall this season, contributing to drought-like conditions and low catchment water levels. Unfortunately, this dry trend is expected to continue over the central interior for the next week with only isolated thunderstorms possible,” said the SAWS.
MEDIA RELEASE: Widespread rainfall possible over the eastern provinces of South Africa for the week of 18 to 24 December 2024
Click on the link for more information https://t.co/ixQ16rnWLc pic.twitter.com/qQPRGA0f19
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 17, 2024
The eastern provinces are likely to see a significant improvement in rainfall over the coming week, as tropical moisture and favourable synoptic conditions are expected to bring more rainfall to the area. “Eastern South Africa is expected to experience increased rainfall over the next week, with numerical models predicting between 70 and 150mm 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.”
@lowvelder WATCH | Cyclone Chido hits Pemba, Mozambique. #chido #mozambique🇲🇿 #cyclone #pemba > Video: Supplied/Deon Goosen – DriveMoz Facebook@MOZAMBIQUE 🇲🇿🌍
The SAWS further said the substantial rainfall increase is likely to elevate the risk of flooding. “As a result, the public is strongly urged to stay informed by following short-term weather forecasts and any warnings issued by the SAWS. With the forecasted rainfall and accompanying cloud cover, temperatures in the eastern parts of the country are expected to cool down, providing some relief from the extreme heat and uncomfortable conditions experienced in recent weeks.”
The SAWS predicts that the weather outlook for Thursday, December 19, shows a possibility of isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over the central and eastern areas of the country, but widespread over KZN and Mpumalanga. “The expected thunderstorms may result in heavy downpours that may lead to localised flooding, a possibility of damaging winds as well as hail in places over Gauteng, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the southern parts of Limpopo.
⛈️Weather outlook for Thursday & Friday, 19 – 20 December 2024.
Isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers are expected over the central and eastern parts of the country, but widespread over KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday. #saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather pic.twitter.com/8HRbTfQPtd— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 17, 2024
For Friday, December 20, isolated showers and thundershowers are possible over the north-eastern areas of the country, but scattered over Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the eastern parts of North West with light rain expected along the south coast.”
