WEATHER: Thunderstorms and heatwave set to slam South Africa

Struggling to decide what to wear? Here’s what today’s weather has in store for South Africa’s nine provinces.

Your daily weather, UVB forecast and temperature updates around South Africa.

Weather conditions and UVB forecast

Gauteng

Temperature: Partly cloudy and warm.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: High

DID YOU KNOW

Where does Gauteng rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 18 178 square kilometres.

Where does Gauteng rank in population among South Africa’s provinces?

Gauteng is the biggest in terms of population, with an estimated 16 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of Gauteng?

The administrative capital of the province is Johannesburg, which is situated at 25°44′46″S 28°11′17″E.

Mpumalanga

Temperature: Cloudy in east at first with early morning fog patches along the escarpment, otherwise, partly cloudy and warm.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does Mpumalanga rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

Mpumalanga is the second smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 76 495 square kilometres.

Where does Mpumalanga rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

Mpumalanga is the sixth most populous, with an estimated 4.7 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of Mpumalanga?

The capital and largest city in the province is Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit), which is situated at 25°27′57″S 30°59′07″E.

The daily weather forecast and temperature updates around South Africa.

Limpopo

Temperature: Cloudy in the east at first with early morning fog patches in the extreme south-east, otherwise partly cloudy and warm but hot in places in the Limpopo Valley and the Western Bushveld.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does Limpopo rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

Limpopo is the fifth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 125 754 square kilometres.

Where does Limpopo rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

Limpopo is the fifth most populous, with an estimated 5.9 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of Limpopo?

The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, which is situated at 23°54′00″S 29°27′00″E.

North West

Temperature: Partly cloudy and warm.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does the North West rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

The North West is the sixth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 104 882 square kilometres.

Where does the North West rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

The North West is the seventh most populous, with an estimated 4.2 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of the North West?

Its capital is Mahikeng (formerly known as Mafikeng), which is situated at 25°51′56″S 25°38′37″E.

Free State

Temperature: Partly cloudy and warm, with isolated showers and thundershowers over the south-western parts.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does the Free State rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Free State is the third largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 129 825 square kilometres.

Where does the Free State rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Free State is the second smallest in terms of population, with an estimated 2.9 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of the Free State?

Formerly known as the Orange Free State, its capital and biggest city is Bloemfontein, South Africa’s judicial capital. It is situated at 29°07′S 26°13′E.

Northern Cape

Temperature: Partly cloudy, windy and warm to hot, with isolated showers and thundershowers over the east and central.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be light and variable becoming moderate north-westerly from the afternoon.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does the Northern Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Northern Cape is the largest of South Africa’s nine provinces at 372 889 square kilometres.

Where does the Northern Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Northern Cape is the smallest in terms of population, with an estimated 1.3 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of the Northern Cape?

Its capital is Kimberley, which is situated at 28°44′18″S 24°45′50″E.

Western Cape

Temperature: Morning fog patches is expected along the coast, otherwise cloudy, windy and cool to warm but hot over the north-eastern parts, with isolated rain and showers from the afternoon except over the north-west.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-westerly to westerly, becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly along the south coast from the late afternoon.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Very High

DID YOU KNOW

Where does the Western Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Western Cape is the fourth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 129 449 square kilometres.

Where does the Western Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Western Cape is the third most populous, with an estimated 7.2 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of the Western Cape?

The capital city is Cape Town, which is situated at 33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E.

Eastern Cape

The Western half: Morning fog south of the escarpment, otherwise Partly cloudy and warm, but hot over the with scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

The Western half – wind: The wind along the coast will be light north-westerly becoming moderate south-westerly from late morning.

The Eastern half: Partly cloudy and hot with isolated thunderstorms but scattered in the extreme west.

The Eastern half-wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate north-easterly becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly in the afternoon.

DID YOU KNOW

Where does the Eastern Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Eastern Cape is the second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces at 168 966 square kilometres.

Where does the Eastern Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

The Eastern Cape is the fourth biggest in terms of population, with an estimated 6.7 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of the Eastern Cape?

Its capital is Bhisho, which is situated at 32°50′58″S 27°26′17″E.

KwaZulu-Natal

Temperature: Morning fog over the northern interior, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated showers and thundershowers in places in the south and west.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh northerly to north-easterly.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Very High

Where does KwaZulu-Natal rank in size among South Africa’s provinces?

KwaZulu-Natal is the seventh largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 94 361 square kilometres.

Where does KwaZulu-Natal rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces?

KwaZulu-Natal is the second most populous, with an estimated 11.5 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020.

What is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal?

The capital city is Pietermaritzburg, which is situated at 29°37′S 30°23′E.

WEATHER ALERTS

IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS

A. Yellow level 2 Warning for Severe Thunderstorms resulting in localised damage to settlements, property and localised disruption to communication and power supply are expected over the Eastern Cape (except in the extreme north-east).

FIRE DANGER WARNINGS

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places over the Northern Cap, Naledi municipality of North-West, in places over the Eastern Cape as well as the in places over King Cetshwayo District of KwaZulu Natal.

ADVISORIES

A. A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places in the north-western parts of KwaZulu Natal until Tuesday (11-13/10/2026)

B. Extremely uncomfortable conditions are expected in places over the southern parts of the Eastern Cape.

Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service