Today's weather: Mixed weather conditions expected across South Africa
South Africans are in for a mixed bag of weather on Wednesday, with scorching temperatures in the Western and Northern Cape, and severe thunderstorms expected over parts of the central and eastern interior.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an advisory for very hot and uncomfortable conditions in parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape, where inland temperatures are expected to soar well into the high 30s.
Overview
Western regions: Fine, dry and very hot, especially over the Northern Cape interior.
Central and eastern regions: Partly cloudy and warm to hot, with isolated to scattered thundershowers developing in the afternoon.
Coastal areas: Humid and breezy along the east coast, with light rain expected along the southern coastline from Thursday.
Morning conditions: Mild across most provinces, heating up rapidly toward midday.
City forecasts
Pretoria: Partly cloudy and warm at 27°C, rising to 32°C on Thursday; light evening showers possible.
Johannesburg: Mild start at 13°C, warming to 25°C; isolated thundershowers in the late afternoon.
Cape Town: Fine and hot at 28°C with moderate winds; slightly cooler on Thursday at 23°C.
Durban: Cloudy and humid with light coastal showers; 26°C high and 20°C low.
Bloemfontein: Sunny and hot at 29°C, reaching 32°C on Thursday; low chance of isolated storms later.
Polokwane: Partly cloudy with a high of 28°C; isolated thunderstorms possible by late afternoon.
Upington: Extremely hot and dry at 36°C, with little relief overnight (20°C low).
Gqeberha: Cloudy with 25°C high, cooling to 20°C on Thursday with light rain possible.
East London: Partly cloudy and warm with 25°C high; coastal showers likely by Thursday.
Weather alerts
Areas affected by heat: Western Cape (Ceres, Worcester, Oudtshoorn, Beaufort West) and Northern Cape (Upington, Springbok, Calvinia, Prieska).
Risks: Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and increased fire danger.
Advice: Stay hydrated, avoid prolonged outdoor activity, and keep pets and livestock cool and shaded.
Severe thunderstorms
Regions: Central and eastern provinces, including Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo.
Risks: Localised flooding, hail, and strong winds.
Advice: Take shelter during storms and exercise caution when driving on wet roads.
While much of the interior remains pleasant in the morning, temperatures will climb sharply in the Northern and Western Cape, while isolated thunderstorms roll through the central and eastern parts by afternoon.
Residents are advised to take precautions in heat-stressed regions and stay alert for SAWS thunderstorm warnings in the east as summer weather patterns intensify across South Africa.
IOL