The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 5 warning for severe thunderstorms across parts of the Free State, KZN and Mpumalanga for tomorrow (November 14).

In its travellers’ weather forecast issued this afternoon (November 13), SAWS warned that severe thunderstorms are expected over the far eastern parts of the Free State, western parts of KZN and the Mpumalanga Highveld. According to the weather service, these storms are expected to flood roads, settlements and low-lying areas, and disrupt power supply and communications.

Yellow warnings and fire danger alerts

SAWS has also issued several Yellow Level 1 and Level 2 impact-based warnings, alongside fire danger alerts, for tomorrow:

• Yellow Level 2 warning (severe thunderstorms): Expected over the eastern parts of both North West and the Free State, southern parts of Limpopo, the north-eastern parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng. SAWS warns this could result in localised flooding and damage to settlements or property, as well as localised disruptions to power supply and communications.
• Yellow Level 2 warning (disruptive rain): Expected over the eastern parts of KZN, leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, settlements and low-lying bridges or areas, alongside increased travel times.
• Yellow Level 1 warning (damaging winds): Valid from 00:00 until 23:59 tomorrow, strong south-easterly winds of 50-60km/h with gusts up to 70–80km/h are expected along the south-west coast and the City of Cape Town District (affecting the Western Cape and the Namakwa district in the Northern Cape). SAWS warns this could cause localised damage to formal and informal settlements and temporary structures, localised difficulty navigating at sea, and a risk of localised runaway fires.
• Fire danger warnings: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Northern Cape, and in places in the Free State and North West, as well as the south-western parts of the Western Cape.

Tomorrow’s regional forecast

• Pretoria: Partly cloudy with afternoon scattered showers and thundershowers (18°C / 32°C). Expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate
• Johannesburg: Partly cloudy with afternoon scattered showers and thundershowers (14°C / 31°C)
• Vereeniging: Partly cloudy with afternoon scattered showers and thundershowers (16°C / 31°C)
• Mbombela: Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers (19°C / 26°C)
• Polokwane: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers (15°C / 30°C)
• Mahikeng: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers (18°C / 33°C)
• Vryburg: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers (17°C / 36°C)
• Bloemfontein: Cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers (14°C / 29°C)
• Kimberley: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers (16°C / 33°C)
• Upington: Partly cloudy (19°C / 37°C)
• Cape Town: Fine and windy, with a moderate to fresh south-easterly wind becoming strong to near gale-force from the afternoon (16°C / 25°C). Expected UVB sunburn index: Very high
• George: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy from late morning with a chance of light rain from the afternoon. Wind: Moderate to fresh south-easterly to easterly (14°C / 22°C)
• Gqeberha: Cloudy with light morning rain, otherwise partly cloudy. Wind: Light westerly at first, otherwise moderate to fresh easterly (16°C / 23°C)
• KuGompo City: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy from late morning with scattered showers and rain. Wind: Light westerly, becoming moderate to fresh south-easterly late morning (16°C / 20°C)
• Durban: Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Wind: Moderate south-easterly (19°C / 22°C). Expected UVB sunburn index: Low
• Richards Bay: Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Wind: Moderate south-easterly (20°C / 23°C)
• Pietermaritzburg: Morning fog, cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers (15°C / 18°C)

Government urges learners to stay safe

With an ongoing risk of further heatwaves, the South African government urged learners to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions during examinations.

In a statement shared on Facebook, government advised the following measures during heatwaves:

• Sun protection: Learners travelling to examination centres are encouraged to use hats or umbrellas and apply sunscreen to protect their skin
• Hydration: Parents and guardians are urged to ensure that learners remain hydrated when travelling to and from examination centres, particularly during periods of high temperatures
• Venue conditions: Schools and examination centres are encouraged to ensure that examination venues are adequately ventilated and that shaded areas are provided wherever possible for learners waiting before or between examination sessions
• Weather alerts: Residents are called upon to remain vigilant and monitor heatwave advisories, weather forecasts and safety warnings issued by SAWS and provincial and municipal disaster management authorities

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