Severe weather warning: KwaZulu-Natal faces orange level 5 alert as heavy rain threatens flooding

SAWS has issued an orange level 5 warning for disruptive rain in KZN, with flooding and dangerous thunderstorms expected across several provinces.

South Africa’s weather service has issued an orange level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall in central and southern KwaZulu-Natal, with flooding, infrastructure damage and danger to life expected in affected areas.

The warning comes as several parts of the country brace for severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, damaging winds and hail on Sunday.

According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the orange level 5 warning means disruptive rain could result in flooding of roads and settlements, including formal and informal communities.

Fast-flowing streams and deep water pose a danger to life, while mud-based and makeshift homes and structures could sustain damage.

The expected conditions could also affect property, infrastructure, livelihoods, livestock and crops.

A yellow level 4 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms over northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Mpumalanga Highveld and south-central parts of Limpopo.

These storms are expected to bring heavy downpours, hail, damaging winds and excessive lightning, with possible flooding and infrastructure damage.

A yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms is also in place for the eastern parts of North West and the Free State, the Mpumalanga Lowveld and escarpment, most parts of Limpopo and Gauteng.

These conditions could result in localised flooding, damage to settlements and property, as well as disruptions to electricity supply and communications.

Meanwhile, a separate yellow level 2 warning for disruptive rain has been issued for parts of south-eastern Eastern Cape, where localised flooding of settlements, roads and bridges is expected.

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in the Nama Khoi, Kamiesberg and Hantam municipalities of the Northern Cape.

The warning also covers the Matzikama and Laingsburg municipalities in the Western Cape, as well as parts of Limpopo.

Pretoria: Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. Minimum 17°C, maximum 32°C.

Johannesburg: Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. Minimum 15°C, maximum 29°C.

Vereeniging: Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. Minimum 17°C, maximum 31°C.

Mbombela: Partly cloudy initially, becoming cloudy in the afternoon with scattered showers and thundershowers. Minimum 17°C, maximum 23°C.

Polokwane: Cloudy with scattered afternoon showers and thundershowers. Minimum 19°C, maximum 23°C.

Mahikeng: Partly cloudy and windy, with isolated afternoon thundershowers. Minimum 15°C, maximum 33°C.

Vryburg: Fine and windy. Minimum 10°C, maximum 30°C.

Bloemfontein: Fine and windy. Minimum 7°C, maximum 27°C.

Kimberley: Fine and windy. Minimum 9°C, maximum 28°C.

Upington: Fine and windy. Minimum 12°C, maximum 31°C.

Cape Town: Fine, with fresh to strong easterly to south-easterly winds. Minimum 12°C, maximum 28°C.

George: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and rain. Minimum 12°C, maximum 20°C.

Gqeberha: Cloudy with isolated showers and rain in the early morning, becoming fine by the afternoon. Minimum 14°C, maximum 20°C.

KuGOMPO City: Cloudy with widespread showers and rain in the morning, becoming partly cloudy by the afternoon. Minimum 15°C, maximum 20°C.

Durban: Cloudy with widespread showers and rain. Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly winds, becoming light to moderate south-westerly from late afternoon. Minimum 17°C, maximum 18°C.

Richards Bay: Cloudy with widespread showers and rain. Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly winds, becoming light to moderate south-westerly from the evening. Minimum 18°C, maximum 20°C.

Pietermaritzburg: Morning and evening fog, otherwise cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers.

The expected UVB sunburn index is moderate in Pretoria and Durban, and very high in Cape Town.

Residents in areas affected by severe weather are urged to remain alert to changing conditions, particularly where heavy rainfall could lead to flooding and dangerous road conditions.