A wet and unsettled day is in store across much of South Africa this Thursday, with showers and thundershowers sweeping through Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga, the North West and the Northern Cape, while Durban and Gqeberha can expect moderate rain and rain showers along the coast. The South African Weather Service has issued several warnings for disruptive rain of moderate severity, so motorists and residents in the affected areas should take care and allow extra time for travel. Only Cape Town and Polokwane escape the worst of it, with partly cloudy skies and milder conditions ranging from a cool 12 degrees in the Mother City to a warm 28 in Limpopo.
🎬 7-Day Weather Forecast Video
⚠️ Weather Warnings
Disruptive Rain (Warning Level 6), from 12:00 on Thursday 17 September, valid until 23:59 on 18 September.
Areas: King Shaka Airport, Stanger, Mandini, Maphumulo, Camperdown, Ndwedwe, Margate, Pennington, St Faith’s (Cathula).
- Flooding of roads, bridges and settlements (formal and informal)
- Danger to life (fast flowing streams/deep waters)
- Major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded
- Disruption to essential services (Water, electricity, communication, etc).
- Damage to mud-based houses.
If possible avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles. If trapped in a vehicle during a flood, abandon it and climb to higher ground. In buildings, move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. Switch off electricity at the supply point to the building. In rural areas protect/relocate animals to a safe place on higher ground. Take caution when traveling or avoid traveling as roads may be flooded, with potholes being filled with water and there may be sinkholes.
Disruptive Rain (Warning Level 4), from 12:00 on Thursday 17 September, valid until 23:59 on 18 September.
Areas: Underberg, Kokstad, Impendle, Donnybrook, Giants Castle, Mooi River, Melmoth, Nkandla, Richmond, Pietermaritzburg, Ixopo, Ulundi and 7 more areas.
- Major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded or closed.
- Damage to property, infrastructure, loss of livelihood and livestock.
- Danger to life (fast flowing streams / deep water).
- Displacement of affected communities.
- Some communities temporarily not accessible/cut-off.
Take caution or avoid traveling on bridges and roads in low lying areas as these may be susceptible to flooding and there may be sinkholes.
Severe Thunderstorms (Warning Level 4), from 08:00 on Thursday 17 September, valid until 22:59 on 17 September.
Areas: Escourt, Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, Dannhauser, Paulpietersburg, Utrecht, Dundee, Abaqulusi, Goodhom, Pomeroy, Newcastle, Nqutu and 1 more areas.
- Flooding of settlements, roads and bridges.
- Damage to property and infrastructure.
- Danger to life (fast flowing streams / deep water).
- Displacement of affected communities.
- Poor driving conditions.
If possible stay indoors and off the roads, avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles. If trapped in a vehicle during a flood, abandon it and climb to higher ground. In buildings, move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. In rural areas move livestock to higher grounds. Take caution when traveling on roads which may be flooded.
Damaging Winds (Warning Level 2), valid until 23:59 on 18 September.
Areas: Grabouw, Garies, Springbok, Worcester, Prince Albert, Paarl, Redelinghuys, Swellendam, Ceres, Hermanus, Robertson, Cape Agulhas and 12 more areas.
- Localised damage to settlements (formal and informal) and temporary structures.
- Some transport routes and travel services will be affected by wind while some journeys may require longer travel times.
- Localised problems for high-sided vehicles on prone routes due to cross winds on exposed high-level roads
Stay indoors where possible away from the windows that open towards the severe winds. Be aware of the following: – sudden cross winds if traveling especially between buildings, fallen trees or power lines and flying debris.Parked aircraft should be pointed into the direction of the wind and secured. Ensure that all temporary structures are well anchored.
Disruptive Rain (Warning Level 2), valid until 23:59 on 18 September.
Areas: Matatiele, Mount Ayliff, Libode, Tsolo, Lusikisiki, Peddie, Somerset East, Port St Johns, Mthatha, Stutterheim, East london, Komga and 3 more areas.
- Localised flooding of roads, bridges, settlements (formal/informal) and low-lying bridges.
- Difficult disruptions to power supply and communications
- Localised traffic disruption, major roads maybe affected but can be used
- Difficult driving conditions on dirt roads
DO NOT cross flooded rivers/areas Road users are advised to be cautious on the roads Increase travel times. Listen for regular weather updates via radio and/or social media. Monitor the weather conditions and if need be, identify areas to safely store valuable items away from flood water.
Weather Advisories
Impact-Based Warnings
- Orange level 6 warning: Disruptive rain resulting in flooding of roads and settlements (formal and informal), danger to life (fast flowing streams/ deep water), displacement of affected communities, loss of livelihood and livestock is expected along the south coast and adjacent interior of KwaZulu-Natal until Friday.
- Yellow level 4 warning: Disruptive rain resulting in flooding of roads and settlements (formal and informal), danger to life (fast flowing streams/ deep water), displacement of affected communities, loss of livelihood and livestock is expected over the eastern and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal until Friday.
- Yellow level 4 warning: Severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours and with a possibility of damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail, leading to injuries and danger to life, as well as localised flooding is expected over eastern and northern Free State, north-western KwaZulu-Natal, and the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga.
- Yellow level 2 warning: Disruptive rain resulting in localised flooding of settlements, roads and low-lying bridges, localised disruptions to power supply and communications is expected over the southern and extreme eastern parts of the Eastern Cape until Friday.
- Yellow level 2 warning: Damaging winds resulting in localised damage to settlements, localised interruption to power and communications and difficult driving conditions is expected over the southern parts of the Northern Cape and the northern parts of the Western Cape.
Fire Danger Warnings
- Extremely high fire danger is expected over the western Bushveld of Limpopo.
Advisories
- Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected over the south-western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, southern parts of the Northern Cape as well as Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Little Karoo districts of the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, and the eastern and southern parts of the Free State until Friday. Light snowfall is possible over the high lying areas of the Western Cape.
Moon Phase
🌓 Moon phase: First Quarter: half the Moon is lit and growing – the halfway climb to full, associated with decision-making and momentum.
The Moon is about 30% illuminated tonight, on day 5.4 of its 29.5-day cycle. It rises at 10:03 and sets at 01:14 (SAST). Next full moon: Saturday 26 September · next new moon: Sunday 11 October.
Weather by Province
From the Weather Community
Forecast data: South African Weather Service (weathersa.co.za) and various 3rd party providers and AI Tools.