Weather Report: a milder Monday after a wet, wild weekend

Monday, 7 September’s Weather Report shows conditions gradually improving after a wet, unsettled weekend, with temperatures climbing in most provinces as the weekend’s severe thunderstorm activity eases.

SAWS still has one Veld Fire Conditions warning in force, covering Vredendal, running until Tuesday.

Gauteng climbs to a high of 17°C in Johannesburg today, up from Sunday’s cooler 15°C. A “high” UVB sunburn index is in effect, so sun precautions are worth taking if you’re outdoors for long.

REMEMBER | WEATHER: Bitter cold and powerful storms to bring flooding and hail

according to SAWS, temperatures are on the rise across most of the country

Mpumalanga sees Mbombela cool slightly to a high of 16°C today, continuing the showery pattern from over the weekend.

Limpopo stays similar to Sunday, with Polokwane reaching 18°C.

North West warms to 20°C in Mahikeng, a noticeable step up from the weekend’s cooler conditions.

The Free State stays steady, with Bloemfontein reaching 19°C, similar to Sunday.

The Northern Cape warms to 21°C in Kimberley, continuing to recover from the weekend’s wetter conditions.

The Western Cape cools slightly to 25°C in Cape Town, still comfortably mild after enjoying clear skies over the weekend.

The Eastern Cape sees Gqeberha warm significantly to 23°C, a solid improvement on Sunday’s cooler, drizzly 19°C.

KwaZulu-Natal sees Durban warm to 20°C, continuing to shake off the weekend’s rain showers.

a still-active fire danger warning to watch

Alongside the improving temperatures, SAWS still has a Veld Fire Conditions warning (Level 10) in force for Vredendal, running until Tuesday.

This warning applies when the Fire Danger Index sits above 75, a level at which fires can develop and spread rapidly, posing a genuine risk to property, animals and people in the area.

It’s a welcome change of pace after a genuinely wild weekend of severe thunderstorm warnings. Still, that fire danger warning is a good reminder that not every risk clears just because the rain does.

Are you noticing the milder conditions today, and how did the weekend’s storms affect your area?