Friday looks wet across much of the country, with showers and thundershowers expected over Gauteng, the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape, while Durban and Mbombela can look forward to rain showers and Gqeberha sees some slight rain. Cape Town stays the pick of the bunch with clear skies and a comfortable 13 to 20 degrees, and Polokwane will be cloudy but mild, with North West enjoying the warmest conditions at up to 27 degrees. Do keep in mind that extreme veld fire conditions remain in effect through the rest of today, so caution is still advised until those warnings ease.
The weekend, province by province
⚠️ New & Updated Weather Warnings
Veld Fire Conditions (Warning Level 10), valid until 18:59 on 17 September.
Areas: Lichtenburg, Ottosdal, Ventersdorp, Wolmaranstad.
- 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.
Veld Fire Conditions (Warning Level 10), valid until 23:59 on 17 September.
Areas: Alldays, Lephalale.
- Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75 in identified areas. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.
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.
Disruptive Rain (Warning Level 4), valid until 23:59 on 18 September.
Areas: Hlabisa, Riverview, Nongoma.
- 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), valid until 23:59 on 17 September.
Areas: Bothaville, Frankfort, Reitz, Sasolburg, Welkom, Parys, Van Reenen, Warden, Ficksburg, Kroonstad, Bohlokong.
- Flooding of roads, settlements and low-lying areas.
- Displacement of affected communities.
- Danger to life (fast flowing streams / deep water).
- Disruption to municipal and other essential services.
- Localised fire incidents.
Drive safely and reduce speed were necessary. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Do not seek shelter under trees or tall objects during storms. Keep an eye on the SAWS website for any updates regarding flooding development.
This morning’s other warnings remain in force – full details in today’s morning forecast.
🎬 7-Day Weather Forecast Video
🗓️ Weather Warnings and Advice for the Days Ahead
Advisories
- Very cold and wet conditions are expected in places over the high lying areas of the Eastern Cape and the south-western parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Source: South African Weather Service severe weather alerts.
🌅 Tomorrow Across South Africa: Friday 18 September
Tomorrow brings a mixed bag across South Africa, with showers and thundershowers rolling through Gauteng and the Free State while the Western Cape enjoys clear skies. Gauteng reaches the warmest high at 24°C, and the Free State stays coolest, dipping to a chilly 10°C overnight-so dress accordingly wherever you are.
| Town | Min / Max | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Pretoria | 14° / 24°C | Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers. UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate |
| Johannesburg | 12° / 24°C | Cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers. |
| Vereeniging | 14° / 21°C | Cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers. |
| Mbombela | 16° / 18°C | Cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers. |
| Polokwane | 15° / 22°C | Partly cloudy. |
| Mahikeng | 15° / 27°C | Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. |
| Vryburg | 13° / 24°C | Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. |
| Bloemfontein | 11° / 15°C | Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. |
| Kimberley | 12° / 19°C | Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. |
| Upington | 11° / 24°C | Cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers. |
| Cape Town | 13° / 20°C | Fine. Wind: Moderate to fresh south-easterly, becoming strong in the afternoon. UVB Sunburn Index: Low |
| George | 10° / 17°C | Cloudy with light rain at times in the early morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Wind: Moderate to fresh easterly to south-easterly. |
| Gqeberha | 12° / 18°C | Cloudy with isolated showers and rain. Wind: Moderate to fresh south-easterly, becoming north-easterly. |
| KuGompo City | 12° / 17°C | Cloudy with scattered showers and rain. Wind: Moderate to fresh easterly, becoming north-easterly. |
| Durban | 14° / 18°C | Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Wind: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly. UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate |
| Richards Bay | 14° / 19°C | Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Wind: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly. |
| Pietermaritzburg | 8° / 13°C | Cloudy with widespread showers and thundershowers. Weather Service) |
Source: South African Weather Service travellers forecast.
SAWS outlook for Friday 18 September, province by province
- Gauteng: Cloudy in the south, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers. The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate.
- Western Cape: Partly cloudy and cool but cloudy and cold in the east with morning rain in the extreme eastern parts. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong southerly to south-easterly, but near gale along the west coast. The expected UVB sunburn index: Low.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Cloudy and cold to cool but very cold in the south-west. Widespread showers and thundershowers are expected but scattered in the extreme north-eastern parts. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly becoming strong north of Mtunzini at times. The expected UVB sunburn index: Moderate.
- Eastern Cape: Western half: Windy in places in the north-west, otherwise cloudy and cold with scattered showers and rain, but isolated along the coast and adjacent interior. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south-easterly, becoming north-easterly from the afternoon. Eastern half: Very cold with snowfall over the north-eastern high ground, otherwise cloudy and cold with scattered showers and rain, but widespread in the east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh north-easterly, but south-easterly in the south during the morning.
- Free State: Cloudy, windy and cold to cool with scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers.
- Limpopo: Cloudy in the east, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers in the south and east.
- Mpumalanga: Cloudy and cool to cold with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.
- North West: Partly cloudy in the north-east, otherwise cloudy, windy and warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers, but widespread in the extreme south-west.
- Northern Cape: Partly cloudy and cool to cold in the extreme west, otherwise cloudy and cool to warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over the central and eastern parts, but widespread in the extreme east. The wind along the coast will be strong to near gale south-easterly.
Source: South African Weather Service regional forecast, issued 16:00.
From the Weather Community
Forecast data: South African Weather Service (weathersa.co.za) and various 3rd party providers and AI Tools.