South Africa can expect very warm weather, heavy thunderstorms and possible flooding in several parts of the country today, Thursday, 5 November.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several warnings, including a yellow level 4 alert for severe thunderstorms affecting Gauteng, parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Free State, North West and most of KwaZulu-Natal. The storms can bring heavy rain, strong winds and hail, with possible damage to property, localised flooding and disruptions to electricity and communication services.
Michelle du Plessis from Vox Weather says October was exceptionally warm nationwide and in many of the summer rainfall areas also drier than normal. Brief relief from the dry conditions is expected during November in the eastern parts of the country. According to SAWS's seasonal forecast, warmer and drier than normal conditions nevertheless remain the most likely scenario for much of South Africa during November to January.
A yellow level 2 alert also applies to parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Free State, North West and the northern interior of the Eastern Cape. A yellow level 1 alert has been issued for damaging inland winds in parts of the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape. Extremely high veld fire danger is expected in several provinces, while warm and humid conditions in the east of KwaZulu-Natal can be particularly uncomfortable.
Motorists and residents are advised to be cautious, especially where heavy rain and flooding occur. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads or low-water bridges. Also be alert to weather changes and follow the latest alerts from SAWS.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
