Pretoria hit by flooding, power outages as severe storms continue

Pretoria residents have been warned to brace for more severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issuing a Yellow Level 2 warning for much of the day.

The City of Tshwane said thunderstorms are expected from the afternoon through to midnight, with temperatures forecast to reach a high of just 15°C in the capital.

The warning comes after heavy rain and flooding affected several parts of Pretoria overnight, including Mamelodi East, Meyerspark, parts of Centurion and Willow Park.

Emergency crews responded to several localised incidents, while there remains a 60% chance of further rainfall.

Residents have been urged to remain indoors during thunderstorms and stay away from metal objects. They have also been advised to avoid flooded roads and open areas during periods of lightning.

Possible impacts include hail, strong winds, localised flooding and traffic disruptions, particularly in low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, the severe storms that battered Pretoria on Monday and continued into Tuesday also caused a fire at the Watloo Substation.

According to the City of Tshwane, the fire affected the Njala infeed substation, leaving parts of Pretoria without electricity on a cold Tuesday morning.

Parts of Pretoria left in the dark?

“At this stage, the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire have not yet been established. Preliminary investigations will be conducted when firefighting operations have concluded, and it is safe for the relevant technical personnel to conduct a full assessment of the affected infrastructure,” the City said.

Residents in affected areas have been urged to exercise caution as the storm system continues to move across the capital.