More extreme weather on the cards for the remainder of 2022

Residents in the eastern half of the country can still expect isolated to scattered thunderstorms for the remainder of 2022.

This in the wake of a wet summer rainfall season.

So far since the start of the rainy season, heavy downpours which led to flooding and damage to property and infrastructure have already been experienced in the different parts of the country with the brunt felt in Gauteng.

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Speaking to The Citizen on Tuesday, forecaster at the South African Weather Service (SAWS) Puseletso Mofokeng said they will be monitoring sporadic thunderstorms which are currently not seen by the SAWS models.

“We will be making closer assessments and should there be any influence of topography in terms of converting ordinary storms into exteme storms, we will then issue warnings accordingly,” said Mofokeng.

He said residents in areas such as Daveyton and Springs in Ekurhuleni experienced extreme thunderstorms on Monday with much of those experienced more on the extreme western areas of Mpumalanga.

“Otherwise residents in Gauteng can also expect evening thunderstorms on Tuesday, including much of the North West province, Free State as well as the western Highveld of KwaZulu Natal (KZN).

“On Wednesday, we can expect partly cloudy conditions across the country but it will also be warm during daytime with isolated showers and thundershowers expected in the afternoon over North West, western parts of Limpopo, Gauteng, western Highveld of Mpumalanga and much of KZN and the Eastern Cape,” he said.

Mofokeng said over and above the expected thunderstorms, extreme thunderstorms can be expected on the extreme eastern areas of the Free State such as Harrismith and QwaQwa, including the western parts of KZN and much of the Eastern Cape,” said Mofokeng.

Looking ahead to Thursday, Mofokeng said there is a 60% chance of showers and thundershowers over much of the country, especially in the eastern half except for the eastern parts of the Northern Cape where only a 30% chance is on the cards.

“However on Friday, scattered showers and thundershowers can be expected in the eastern Free State, KZN, Mpumalanga , Gauteng as well as southern Limpopo, otherwise the western areas of the Free State and North West will see only isolated showers and thundershowers.

“The chances of rainfall on Saturday and on Sunday will be quite limited,” Mofokeng added.

The heavy downpours which have been experienced are expected to continue at least until before the upcoming Autumn season of 2023.

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