Gauteng, Free State, North West and Mpumalanga brace as severe level five weather warning issued
A level five weather warning has been issued for Gauteng, Free State, North West, western Limpopo, and the Highveld of Mpumalanga, with severe thunderstorms and potential flooding expected, while a level two warning and fire danger alerts are in place for other parts of South Africa. Seen here: SuperSport Park on Saturday, moments before a heavy storm moved in. Picture: Farryn Sherman
Image: Farryn Sherman
Gauteng is in for another wet and rainy Sunday, as the South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued a level five warning for Gauteng, Free State, North West, western parts of Limpopo, and the Highveld of Mpumalanga.
With the rains already closing in on Saturday, both the SA20 matches on the Highveld at The Wanderers in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Park were abandoned.
A day later, the bad weather is set to intensify, with the heavy rains not just limited to Gauteng.
Saws has warned of the threat of severe thunderstorms, which will lead to flooding in many areas, including many roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges.
According to the SAWS, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Vereeniging are expected to be cloudy with widespread showers and thunderstorms. Mbombela, Mahikeng and Polokwane and Bloemfontein will experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with the latter city also experiencing windy conditions.
Rainfall predicted over South Africa on Sunday.
Image: SAWS
Severe Weather Warnings and Fire Danger Alerts Issued Across South Africa
Meanwhile, Saws has also issued a level two weather warning for the north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, western parts of both the Free State and North West, the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as along the escarpment of both Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Again, the major danger areas will be susceptible areas, settlements, and low-lying bridges.
In addition to the heavy rain affecting many parts of the country, there is a Fire Danger Warning according to Saws.
Saws said in a statement: “Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Dawid Kruiper and Kai Garib municipalities of the Northern Cape as well as the West Coast district of the Western Cape.”
After the massive floods in Centurion on December 21, the area has been left with countless potholes and damaged infrastructure.
Tragically, there were a number of deaths reported as a result of the floods - a delivery driver drowned as well as two members of the public who were trapped in the vehicle as they were swept away in the Hennops River.
Expected temperatures:
- Johannesburg: 15/26
- Vereeniging: 13/27
- Mbombela: 17/23
- Polokwane: 17/23
- Mahikeng: 18/28
- Vryburg: 19/30
- Bloemfontein: 16/26
- Kimberley: 19/30
- Upington: 21/38
- Cape Town 21/29
- George: 17/23
- Gqeberha: 18/25
- East London: 18/25
- Durban: 19/25
- Richards Bay: 19/27
- Pietermartizburg: 12/23