Weather Alert: New Warning Today; Saturday’s Weather – Eastern Cape Stays Soggy While the Interior Basks (7 Day Forecast 12-18 Sept 2026)

Saturday looks like a day of two halves across South Africa, with clear, mild skies inland in Gauteng, Limpopo and the Northern Cape, while the coastal provinces stay wet as rain showers move through Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha. Bloemfontein and Kimberley will see the widest swings, climbing into the high 20s after chilly starts, and drivers around Mbombela should take care in early morning fog. Do keep in mind that extreme veld fire conditions remain in force across several provinces, so exercise real caution with any open flames where the air is dry and warm.

⚠️ New & Updated Weather Warnings

Veld Fire Conditions (Warning Level 10), valid until 18:59 on 12 September.
Areas: Groblershoop, Prieska, Augrabies Falls, Victoria West, Daniëlskuil, Upington, Noupoort, Barkly West, Twee Rivieren, VanWyksvlei.

• Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75. Under these conditions fires may develop and spread rapidly resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

All personnel and equipment should be removed from the field. Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time. All available aircraft are to be called for without delay.

Weather Advisory (Warning Advisory), valid until 23:59 on 14 September.
Areas: Grabouw, Garies.

• 1. Intermittent showers and thundershowers from Sunday until Monday afternoon, heavy at times with possible large amounts of small hail and lightning.
• 2. Significant drop in temperatures over the high-lying areas.
• 3. Windy coastal and interior conditions.
• 4. Very rough seas (reaching 4.0 to 4.5 m south of Table Bay).

The public and small stock farmers are advised to take the necessary precaution to ensure the safety and health of their animals during very cold days. Limit outdoor activities and keep warm.

🎬 7 Day Weather Forecast Video

🗓️ Weather Warnings and Advice for the Days Ahead

Fire Danger Warnings

• Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in places in the central and eastern parts of Northern Cape.

Advisories

• A Cut-off low pressure system developing west of the country, is expected to affect the Western and Northern Cape provinces from Sunday into Monday (13-14/09/2026). The public and small stock farmers are advised that the following can be expected:.
• Intermittent showers and thundershowers, heavy at times with possible large amounts of small hail and lightning.
• Significant drop in temperatures over the high-lying areas.
• Windy coastal and interior conditions.
• Very rough seas (reaching 4.0 to 4.5 m south of Table Bay).

Source: South African Weather Service severe weather alerts.

🌅 Tomorrow Across South Africa: Saturday 12 September

Tomorrow brings a mixed bag across South Africa, with clear skies warming Gauteng and partly cloudy conditions in the Free State, while rain showers sweep across the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and slight rain in the Eastern Cape. Keep an umbrella handy in the coastal provinces, and note the Free State’s wide swing from a chilly 7°C to a warm 27°C.

Source: South African Weather Service travellers forecast.

SAWS outlook for Saturday 12 September, province by province

• Gauteng: Fine and cool to warm. The expected UVB sunburn index: High.
• Western Cape: Cloudy and cold to cool with isolated showers and rain, but scattered over the Overberg and western parts of the Garden Route Districts. Isolated showers and thundershowers are also expected over the north – eastern parts from the afternoon. It will be warm in the west. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate easterly along the south coast, reaching fresh at times, otherwise fresh to strong southerly to south-easterly, reaching gale along the south-west coast The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate.
• KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog over the central and western interior, otherwise partly cloudy to cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and rain in places in the south. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-westerly north of Richards Bay, otherwise northerly to north -easterly, spreading to Kosi Bay by midday and reaching fresh in the extreme north in the afternoon. The expected UVB sunburn index: High AND OR.
• Eastern Cape: Western half: Partly cloudy and warm in the north, otherwise cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers, but scattered showers and rain along the coast. The wind along the coast will be moderate north-easterly, becoming south-easterly in the afternoon. Eastern half: Partly cloudy north of the escarpment, otherwise cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers. Isolated showers and rain can be expected along the coast, but scattered in the south. The wind along the coast will be moderate north-easterly.
• Free State: Fine and warm, becoming partly cloudy in the west towards evening.
• Limpopo: Morning fog and drizzle in the south -eastern parts where it will be cloudy to partly cloudy, otherwise fine and warm.
• Mpumalanga: Morning fog and drizzle over the central and eastern parts, otherwise fine to partly cloudy and cool to warm.
• North West: Fine and warm, becoming partly cloudy towards evening.
• Northern Cape: Fine in the north east, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot with early evening isolated showers and thunders howers in the west and southern parts. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south-easterly, reaching strong at times. It will become light and variable in the evening.

Source: South African Weather Service regional forecast, issued 16:00.

From the Weather Community

When the Ocean Dragon comes to get you (Took this at Kalk Bay this morning at 7am) 😳😳😳

Shared today in the Severe Weather and Information Centre SA group · See the post in the group

🚨⛈️ HAIR STANDING UP DURING A THUNDERSTORM IS NO LAUGHING MATTER! ⚡ 12:40, 11 September 2026 💕 Please share this information as widely as possible. Sharing is caring, and you could help save a life! 💕 In 1975, brothers Michael McQuilken, 18, and Sean McQuilken, 12, were hiking with their sister Mary and friends at Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, California, USA. On 20 August 1975, as dark clouds gathered and light rain began to fall, something unusual happened: their hair began standing on end. At first, they found the strange phenomenon amusing. Their sister Mary took the now-famous…

Shared today in the Severe Weather and Information Centre SA group · See the post in the group

Forecast data: South African Weather Service (weathersa.co.za).