Weather: Over 50mm rain expected in Gauteng
The weather services said more than 50mm of rain is expected in parts of Gauteng. Here is your latest weather update.
Pretoria residents should brace for a stormy weekend, with more than 50mm of rain expected from Sunday through Monday evening.
Heavy downpours, hail, damaging winds, and localized flooding are anticipated as thunderstorms intensify nationwide, driven by a moisture-laden trough and upper-air system.
According to Vox Weather forecaster Michelle du Plessis, the weekend will be mild to warm, with temperatures in the mid-20s, due to expected rain and thunderstorms over large parts of the country.
“In Gauteng, we primarily expect heavy rain on Sunday and Monday. There is also a chance of rain and thunderstorms on Saturday, but especially on Sunday and Monday.”
She warned that some of the storms could be severe, potentially leading to hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, with possible localized flooding.
“This stormy weather is due to a trough stretching across the western interior, transporting moisture from the tropics to South Africa, as well as an upper-air trough that assists with the development of rain and thunderstorms.”
Du Plessis said more than 50mm of rain is possible over parts of Gauteng by Monday evening.
Given the expected stormy weather conditions predicted for parts of the Gauteng province, Santam advises that South Africans should adhere to the following safety tips:
Road use tips:
Use a GPS or App-related maps to find viable routes to use when travelling in the affected areas.
Drive slowly – slower driving minimises damages linked to storms and combats slippery roads.
If affected, locate a safe, covered area immediately or pull over under an overpass, provided it is safe.
Undercover parking at malls and petrol stations is an excellent temporary solution to protecting your car during a severe downpour.
Stay inside the vehicle. Large hail stones pose a genuine personal injury threat.
Keep fleecy blankets in your boot so you can cover your car to minimise the impact of hail.
If you don’t have blankets, grab the floor mats and put them on the roof and hood to at least cover some of the car to help minimise the costs of dent repair, dent removal and other hail damage repair.
Take careful note of the extent of the damage to your car, and look for damage to all glass items, including side mirrors, taillights, and headlights.
Taking pictures may be useful when it comes to claim time.
If you are affected by a storm, immediately report the incident to your insurer.
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