Today's weather: Thunderstorms, heatwave and damaging winds to lash SA

South Africans are in for a dramatic weather day on Friday, with a mix of intense heat, uncomfortable humidity and the risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of the country.

The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms over the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and the south-western interior of KwaZulu-Natal.

These storms may bring heavy downpours that could cause localised flooding in low-lying areas and on vulnerable roads and bridges. Strong, damaging winds, frequent lightning and hail are also possible, with a risk of damage to infrastructure and settlements.

Rain chances will be highest in the eastern interior. 

Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected over the eastern half of the Eastern Cape and the western and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with rain probabilities of around 60 to 80% in places.

The central interior, including parts of the Free State and interior sections of the Northern Cape, can expect isolated to scattered showers with rain chances of about 30 to 60%.

The Western Cape and the far west of the Northern Cape will mostly remain dry.

Elsewhere, conditions stay hot. Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga will be partly cloudy and warm to hot, with the Lowveld especially hot.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal will remain very hot under a heat wave, while hot and humid weather will make eastern KwaZulu-Natal feel particularly uncomfortable.

Along the coast, winds will generally be moderate to fresh, shifting direction through the day, especially along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline where a northerly to north-easterly wind will turn southerly later on.

UV levels will be high to extreme in many regions, including Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, so sun protection is essential if you are outdoors.

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