SA weekend weather: Storms in the East, heatwave in the West

South Africa is heading into a weather-split weekend, with clear and hot conditions dominating the west while widespread showers and thunderstorms settle over the central and eastern provinces from Saturday into Sunday.

On Saturday, a band of clouds and storms stretches across Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Free State and parts of KwaZulu-Natal. The South African Weather Service warns of scattered to widespread rain, with up to a 60% chance of thunderstorms across the central interior.

Northeastern Limpopo and the eastern escarpment face an even higher risk, with an 80% chance of heavy downpours that could disrupt outdoor plans. Cooler temperatures are expected in the east under thick cloud cover, while warm conditions persist in the North West and northern Free State.

The Western Cape, Northern Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape enjoy a different picture entirely. The sun dominates most of the west on Saturday, with warm, dry and stable conditions stretching from Cape Town through the Karoo and into the Northern Cape interior.

Only isolated light rain of about 30% is expected along parts of the West Coast and the far southwestern coastline.

Sunday shifts slightly but keeps the same east-west divide. Storms remain in place over much of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern Free State, again with about a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms over the eastern half of the country. Limpopo’s rain risk eases but still remains notable at around 30% in some areas.

While the east stays cloudy and cool, the west bakes under clear skies. Temperatures rise sharply across the Northern Cape and Western Cape, where hot conditions take hold from Springbok to Beaufort West and deep into the interior.

Coastal winds strengthen along both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastlines, but the weather stays predominantly dry in the west.

Overall, the country experiences two very different weekends in one: stormy and cool in the east, hot and sunny in the west. Perfect for beachgoers along the Cape coastline, but umbrella-worthy for anyone from Johannesburg to Durban.

IOL News