Scattered storms and heat expected across South Africa this Friday.
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South Africans can expect a mix of warm conditions and scattered thunderstorms on Friday, with the potential for severe weather in parts of the Northern Cape as a summer-like pattern lingers into early autumn.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms over Nama Khoi, Khai-Ma and Hantam municipalities in the Northern Cape.
These storms are expected to bring strong, damaging winds, hail, intense lightning and heavy downpours, raising the risk of localised flooding and damage to infrastructure, property and livestock.
Rainfall activity will be most widespread across the central and western interior, where scattered showers and thundershowers are expected, with rain chances reaching around 60% in parts of the western interior.
Isolated showers, with a 30% chance, are forecast across the Free State, Northern Cape interior, KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Eastern Cape, particularly in the afternoon and evening.
Gauteng will see partly cloudy and warm conditions with no significant rainfall expected, while Limpopo and Mpumalanga start the day with patches of morning fog before clearing to partly cloudy and warm weather.
The Western Cape can expect partly cloudy to hot conditions, with isolated afternoon thundershowers developing inland, while coastal winds turn from light and variable to fresher southerly directions later in the day.
In the Eastern Cape, fine and hot weather will dominate initially, especially in the western half, before cloud builds with isolated showers developing over the northern areas.
Along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and East London, hot and humid conditions are expected to create uncomfortable weather.
KwaZulu-Natal will remain warm and partly cloudy, with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers, particularly away from the north-eastern parts, while coastal winds strengthen through the day.
Across much of the country, UVB levels remain high to very high, and residents are advised to take precautions if spending extended periods outdoors.
Overall, Friday will bring a blend of heat and developing storms, with the greatest impacts expected in the Northern Cape where severe thunderstorms could disrupt communities.
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