With the Easter weekend around the corner, and rescue and clean-up teams hard at work in Kwa-Zulu Natal, many are wondering what the weather will hold in store for South Africans. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) predicts no rain for KZN today, but says that wet weather and the possibility of localised flooding, might return to the province tomorrow.

SAWS says that while the outlook for the weekend does include rain for a large part of the country, the most important message they want to convey is that early access to timely and accurate forecasts and weather-related warnings will enable people to plan ahead and not to be caught unaware or unprepared for spells of rainy or inclement weather.

Weather for today

Today sees an upper trough starting to develop over the south-western sector of South Africa, expected to promote isolated light showers and thundershowers over the Cape provinces.

The remainder of the country is expected to remain dry, although the Lowveld of South Africa and Eswatini may see a few showers or thundershowers.

Weekend weather for Friday through to Monday

On Good Friday, the upper trough is expected to intensify further, resulting in the development of an extensive band of isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over much of the central interior.

Consequently, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are likely to experience the return of thunderstorms, along with the risk of localised flooding and/or occurrences of hail and strong, damaging winds.

Saturday sees scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers persisting over the central provinces, spreading to include the eastern and north-eastern provinces, where further significant to heavy falls may occur at places, especially over North West, Free State and Gauteng.

Sunday and Monday will see rainfall persisting over the central and eastern parts of the country.

The SAWS says the low pressure that has caused devastation over KwaZulu-Natal earlier this week is not expected to cause any further impacts over the country as it is forecasted to move away from South Africa.

The weather service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required.

Furthermore, the public are urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television and radio. Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherServic

The weather report was compiled by Kevin Rae and Elizabeth Viljoen.