Weather alert: thunderstorms and damaging winds in parts of the country

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has released its latest weather forecast for Friday, 2 May 2025.

The weather service has warned of partly cloudy and cold to cool with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the south and eastern parts of the country. Meanwhile, coastal areas are warned of damaging winds and waves. Here’s what you need to know.

Weather update for today and tomorrow, 01-02 May 2025:
Partly cloudy and cold to cool with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the south and eastern parts of RSA. ⚠️Severe thunderstorms, Damaging wind and waves#SAWS #southafricanweather pic.twitter.com/BiUgulil1F

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 1, 2025

Weather warnings, Friday, 2 May 2025

Impact-based warnings

The weather service has issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves, resulting in difficulty in navigation. Small vessels taking on water and capsizing within a locality are expected along the coast between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay.

Another yellow level 2 warning was issued for damaging winds and waves, which can make navigation difficult. Small vessels taking on water and capsizing within a locality are expected along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and Port Edward.

Advisories

Cold conditions are expected in the southern Namakwa district in the Northern Cape, the Cape Winelands, and the Central and Little Karoo municipalities in the Western Cape.

ALSO READ: Cold front expected in Gauteng this week

Here’s what to expect in your province on 2 May:

Gauteng:

Partly cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers in the north, where it will be cloudy.

The expected UVB sunburn index: Very High

Mpumalanga:

Cloudy and cool with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. It will be warm in the Lowveld.

Limpopo:

It will be cloudy and cool to warm, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. In the extreme north, it will be partly cloudy and hot.

North-West:

There are morning fog patches in the extreme northeast. Otherwise, it is partly cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and thundershowers in the extreme northeast.

It will be cold in the extreme west.

Free State:

Morning fog patches in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cold.

Weather forecast for coastal areas

Northern Cape:

It will be partly cloudy and cold, but cool in the northeast. It will be fine in the West. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong south-easterly.

Western Cape:

It will be partly cloudy and cold, with light rain in the morning along the south coast and adjacent interior. It will be cool in places in the western parts.

The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh westerly to south-westerly along the south coast, becoming strong in the afternoon, otherwise moderate to fresh southerly to southeasterly.

The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate

Western half of the Eastern Cape:

Cloudy, windy and cold with isolated showers and rain, except in the extreme north-west. Light snow is possible over the northern high ground.

The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong westerly, becoming south-westerly in the afternoon.

Eastern half of the Eastern Cape:

Windy, cloudy and cold with isolated showers and rain in the south-east in the morning.

The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong south-westerly.

KwaZulu-Natal:

Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers, but isolated in the west. It will be cold in places in the extreme south.

The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong southerly to south-westerly. The expected UVB sunburn index: Low