Weather Service warns of thunderstorms across central and eastern South Africa
The South African Weather Service issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday. It also issued a yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds in parts of the Free State and Northern Cape.
The weather service expects isolated to scattered thunderstorms over central and eastern parts of the country this week. It said a surface trough, a high-pressure system and upper-air disturbances will combine with high temperatures. It also warned of high fire danger in several provinces.
The service said severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal could cause localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements. This covers most of the province, except the extreme north-east, and extreme northern Eastern Cape.
The damaging winds could cause localised damage to settlements, farm losses and transport disruptions in the western Free State and extreme eastern Northern Cape. The service said this could happen there.
Senior forecaster Lehlogonolo Thobela said widespread rain and showers are possible along the Eastern Cape coast and southern KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday. He said conditions elsewhere will be partly cloudy and warm to hot.
Key facts
- Who
- South African Weather Service (weather forecaster that issued the warning); Lehlogonolo Thobela (senior forecaster at the South African Weather Service)
- What
- SAWS forecasts high temperatures and isolated to scattered thunderstorms over central and eastern parts of South Africa this week, with cloudy, cool conditions and widespread rain along the Eastern Cape coast and southern KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
- When
- 26 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
- Status
- Reported