SAWS issues Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in KZN, Gauteng to hit 31°C

• The South African Weather Service issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal, with risks of flooding and infrastructure damage
• The Eastern Cape is forecast to receive widespread rain on Monday, while Gauteng braces for warm to hot conditions reaching around 31°C
• Mbombela in Mpumalanga could climb to a sweltering 39°C, while Cape Town remains considerably cooler at around 18°C

South Africa is in for a dramatic split in weather conditions this Monday, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning of severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal while other provinces bake in scorching heat.

SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for KwaZulu-Natal, valid from Sunday through Monday. The alert flags risks including localised flooding, hail, damage to infrastructure and dangerous driving conditions. A surface trough sitting over the central parts of the country is expected to drive surface convergence over the KZN interior, producing isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers across the province.

KZN and Eastern Cape on high alert

Residents in KwaZulu-Natal have been urged to exercise caution, as the storms could damage settlements and cause flooding on roads and bridges. The eastern and southern coastlines are expected to see cloudy and cool conditions throughout the day.

The Eastern Cape is also set for a wet Monday, with rainfall forecast to be more widespread than in surrounding provinces. Central and eastern parts of the country could also see scattered showers and thundershowers developing during the day.

Heat builds across Limpopo and Mpumalanga

Away from the rain, temperatures in the north and north-east are set to soar. Polokwane in Limpopo is forecast to reach 34°C, while Mbombela in Mpumalanga could climb as high as 39°C, making it one of the hottest spots in the country on Monday.

In Gauteng, conditions will be warm to hot, with Johannesburg expected to hit around 31°C. Cape Town, meanwhile, will remain significantly cooler, with a forecast high of just 18°C along the south-western coast.

SAWS described conditions elsewhere in the country as partly cloudy and warm to hot, with isolated showers possible across the central and eastern interior.

Read the full report here.

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Source: Briefly News

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