Wendy Dondolo|Published
South Africa is set for a mostly fine and warm to hot Saturday, with sunny conditions expected across much of the country.
However, residents in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga could see increased cloud cover, morning fog patches and a chance of light rain or drizzle over the Lowveld and escarpment.
The South African Weather Service has forecast extremely high fire danger conditions in the Nama Khoi Local Municipality in the Northern Cape on Saturday.
Isolated showers or light rain are possible in parts of the eastern escarpment and Lowveld, particularly in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Gauteng is expected to experience fine and warm conditions, turning hot in the extreme north.
Residents can expect plenty of sunshine, while the UVB sunburn index is forecast to reach very high levels, making sun protection important for those spending extended periods outdoors.
The North West will be fine and hot to very hot, while the Free State will start off fine and warm to hot before becoming partly cloudy later in the day.
In Limpopo, hot conditions are expected in the west, with partly cloudy to cloudy weather developing in the east. Morning fog patches and a chance of light rain along the escarpment and Lowveld could affect some areas.
Mpumalanga will follow a similar pattern, with fine and warm weather over much of the province, becoming cloudier towards the east. Light rain or drizzle remains possible in parts of the Lowveld and along the escarpment.
Sunday to bring scattered thunderstorms
October 25 is expected to bring a greater chance of showers and thundershowers across parts of the eastern and central interior, while much of the western half of the country remains dry, sunny and increasingly hot.
The weather outlook indicates a 30% chance of isolated showers and thundershowers over parts of the interior, including areas around the Free State, North West, the eastern interior and sections of KwaZulu-Natal. These rainfall chances are localised, meaning many places could remain dry despite cloud build-up nearby.
KwaZulu-Natal is likely to experience cloudy conditions and morning fog over the southern and extreme western interior, becoming partly cloudy and warm elsewhere. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the north and extreme west of the province, making these areas the main focus for Sunday afternoon rainfall.
Parts of the eastern interior could also experience cooler conditions beneath increased cloud cover and showers, contrasting with the hotter weather expected across the western and northern parts of the country.
In Gauteng, fine and warm conditions are expected to give way to partly cloudy skies in places, with temperatures becoming hot in the north. Although widespread rain is not anticipated, nearby thunderstorm activity over parts of the interior could bring changes in cloud cover and local conditions.
Limpopo and Mpumalanga are expected to remain warm to hot, with the hottest conditions in the west and north. While the main rainfall focus shifts towards the central and eastern interior on Sunday, localised showers remain possible in areas where sufficient cloud develops.
Hot conditions raise fire danger in the west
The western half of South Africa is expected to remain largely dry over the weekend, with hot to very hot conditions developing in several areas on Sunday.
The Northern Cape will experience fine weather across much of the province, although partly cloudy conditions are expected in the south-east. Very hot conditions are forecast in places, while fresh to strong south-easterly winds are expected along the coast.
The extremely high fire danger warning for the Nama Khoi Local Municipality remains a key concern. Hot, dry and windy conditions can allow fires to spread rapidly, and residents are urged to exercise caution with open flames and activities that could start veld fires.
The Western Cape will see cloudy to partly cloudy conditions along the west and south coast during Saturday morning, followed by generally fine weather.
Conditions are expected to range from cool to warm, with hot weather along the west coast and over the Central Karoo. Sunday is expected to remain mostly dry across the province, with sunny conditions in many areas.
The Eastern Cape will also enjoy generally fine and warm weather, although morning fog patches are possible in places south of the escarpment. Coastal winds will vary in direction as conditions change through the day.
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