The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned South Africans of widespread showers and flooding expected in many parts of the country from Wednesday.

The weather office said a cut-off low-pressure system is expected to develop over the western interior on Wednesday, moving into the central interior where it will become quasi-stationary from Thursday until Saturday before dissipating on Sunday.

“Ample tropically sourced air will be advected southwards from northern Namibia and Botswana, where significant rainfall has occurred lately due the presence of a tropical low called an ‘Africane’.”

Saws said cut-off lows are notorious for causing severe weather over South Africa, such as heavy rainfall and flooding.

“Due to the slow-moving nature of this cut-off low, persistent rainfall for several days may result in widespread flooding over the central, southern, and eastern parts of the country.”

“Rainfall is expected to start in the west today [Monday], and is expected to slowly spread eastwards during Tuesday, with heavier showers and thundershowers possible over the interior of the Eastern Cape during the afternoon and evening.

“Once the cut-off low develops on Wednesday evening, rainfall should become widespread, with the possibility of heavy falls in places, over most of the country, excluding the Western Cape and the western parts of the Northern Cape.”

The weather office said isolated severe thunderstorms may also develop over the central and southern interior due to cooler air aloft associated with the cut-off low.

Due to the extensive cloud cover associated with this system, Saws said cooler daytime temperatures can also be expected over much of South Africa.

“Given that this system is only expected to develop during Wednesday, there is still a fair amount of uncertainty regarding the rate at which the system will intensify as well as the location and timing of possible severe weather phenomena.”

The weather office said it will therefore continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required.