Hail, lightning and damaging winds are expected in Gauteng

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned Gauteng residents to brace for severe thunderstorms this weekend.

SAWS issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms over Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng, valid for Saturday, 14 November.

The weather service said that after a week of heatwaves across the central and eastern parts of the country, thunderstorms are expected over the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo. The storms should bring some relief from the heat, but SAWS cautioned that severe thunderstorms are possible.

What Gauteng residents can expect

The stormy conditions are expected to continue until Sunday, with flooding possible in parts of the affected provinces.

The Gauteng Weather account on X said the whole province faces a 60% chance of rain, with storms expected between 14:00 and 23:59 on Saturday.

The overall forecast for Gauteng is partly cloudy and warm to hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers in the afternoon.

According to SAWS, the severe thunderstorms could cause localised flooding, damage to property, and disruptions to power and communications in Gauteng and parts of the North West, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

How to stay safe during the storms

Residents should take precautions before the storms arrive. These include:

• Avoiding crossing flooded roads, bridges and low-lying areas, whether on foot or in a vehicle
• Staying indoors and away from windows during lightning
• Parking vehicles under cover to protect them from hail
• Unplugging electrical appliances to protect them from power surges
• Keeping cellphones charged in case of power outages

Motorists should drive slowly, increase their following distance and switch on their headlights during heavy rain.

Residents living in informal settlements and low-lying areas should keep a close eye on rising water levels and move to higher ground if necessary.

SAWS will continue to monitor the weather system and update its warnings as conditions develop.