South Africa welcomes the first day of spring with generally pleasant and settled conditions across much of the country, with mostly clear skies over Johannesburg, Polokwane and Mbombela, while Cape Town sees some high-level cloud and coastal centres like Durban and Gqeberha remain partly cloudy. Interior regions can look forward to warm afternoons, with temperatures climbing to around 28 to 29 degrees in Mahikeng, Polokwane, Mbombela and Kimberley, though early mornings stay cool, dipping to just 7 degrees in Bloemfontein. Several weather advisories are currently in effect from the South African Weather Service, so residents are encouraged to keep an eye on updates as the day unfolds.
⚠️ Weather Warnings
Weather Advisory (Warning Advisory), valid until 23:59 on 3 September.
Areas: Grabouw, Garies, Pofadder, Springbok, Worcester, Prince Albert, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Paarl, George, Redelinghuys, Swellendam.
- Very cold, wet and windy conditions (with maximum temperatures below 10 °C) over the high-lying areas.
- Disruptive rainfall leading to possible localised flooding over the south-eastern parts of the Western Cape.
- Damaging interior winds as well as gale force winds along the south-west and south coast.
- Damaging waves (reaching 4.5 to 5.5 m in places).
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.
Weather Advisories
Impact-Based Warnings for Thursday – Friday (3-4/09/2026)
- Yellow Level 4 Warning: Disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads and settlements, and major disruption of traffic flow are expected over the Overberg and Garden Route District Municipalities in the Western Cape on Thursday.
- Yellow level 4 warning: Damaging wind leading to damage to temporary structures and settlement, injuries and danger to life from flying debris, transport routes and travel services affected is expected over the Namakwa District Municipality in the Northern Cape as well as parts of the Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and the Little Karoo District Municipalities in the Western Cape on Thursday afternoon into Friday.
- Yellow level 4 warning: Damaging Wind and Waves leading to disruption of ports/harbours, danger to navigation at sea are expected between Alexander Bay and Plettenburg Bay from Thursday.
Fire Danger Warnings
- Extremely High Fire Danger conditions are expected in places over the eastern half of the Northern Cape as well as the south-eastern parts of the Free State.
Advisories
- An intense Cut-Off Low (COL) is expected to affect the Western and Northern Cape provinces from Thursday into Friday (03-04 September 2026). The public and small stock farmers are advised that very cold, wet and windy conditions, as well as disruptive rainfall, damaging interior winds and damaging coastal winds and waves can be expected.
Moon Phase
🌖 Moon phase: Waning Gibbous: the Moon is just past full and slowly shrinking – still bright, rising later each night; a phase associated with winding down and reflection.
The Moon is about 82% illuminated tonight, on day 18.9 of its 29.5-day cycle. It rises at 23:10 and sets at 09:04 (SAST). Next full moon: Saturday 26 September · next new moon: Friday 11 September.
Weather by Province
Gauteng – Johannesburg
9°C to 26°C · mostly clear · Rain 0% · light North North Easterly.
Feels like 25°C · humidity 20 to 40% · UV low · wind NNE at 5 km/h · cloud cover 25%.
SAWS regional outlook: Partly cloudy in the north, otherwise fine and warm. The expected UVB sunburn index: High.
- Pretoria: 11°C to 27°C · mostly clear · wind ENE at 5 km/h
- Soweto: 6°C to 27°C · mostly clear · wind NNE at 5 km/h
- Vereeniging: 8°C to 26°C · mostly clear · wind N at 5 km/h
Western Cape – Cape Town
10°C to 19°C · high level clouds · Rain 0% · light East South Easterly.
Feels like 18°C · humidity 60 to 85% · UV low · wind ESE at 5 km/h · cloud cover 5%.
SAWS regional outlook: Fine and cool to warm, but cold in places in the southern parts. The wind along the coast will be light to moderate westerly to south-westerly along the south coast, otherwise moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly. The expected UVB sunburn index: High.
- Stellenbosch: 5°C to 19°C · high level clouds · wind ESE at 5 km/h
- Paarl: 5°C to 21°C · high level clouds · wind SSE at 5 km/h
- George: 8°C to 18°C · clear skies · wind NW at 5 km/h
KwaZulu-Natal – Durban
18°C to 25°C · partly cloudy · Rain 0% · light North North Easterly.
Feels like 25°C · humidity 80 to 85% · UV low · wind NNE at 10 km/h · cloud cover 50%.
SAWS regional outlook: Morning fog over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and the thundershowers in the south. The wind along the coast will be moderate easterly to north-easterly, but fresh in the north at times. The expected UVB sunburn index: Very High.
- Pietermaritzburg: 13°C to 31°C · Showers and Thundershowers · wind NNW at 5 km/h
- Richards Bay: 15°C to 32°C · partly cloudy · wind NNE at 10 km/h
- Newcastle: 10°C to 30°C · partly cloudy · wind W at 5 km/h
Eastern Cape – Gqeberha
10°C to 19°C · partly cloudy · Rain 0% · light South South Westerly.
Feels like 17°C · humidity 75 to 85% · UV low · wind SSW at 10 km/h · cloud cover 25%.
SAWS regional outlook: Western half: Fine and warm, but cool along the coast. The wind along the coast will be light westerly to south-westerly. Eastern half: Fine and warm. The wind along the coast will be light south-easterly.
- East London: 12°C to 20°C · partly cloudy · wind S at 10 km/h
- Mthatha: 9°C to 28°C · partly cloudy · wind NW at 5 km/h
- Queenstown: 9°C to 29°C · partly cloudy · wind W at 20 km/h
Free State – Bloemfontein
7°C to 26°C · partly cloudy · Rain 0% · light West North Westerly.
Feels like 23°C · humidity 20 to 35% · UV moderate · wind WNW at 10 km/h · cloud cover 50%.
SAWS regional outlook: Partly cloudy and warm but fine in the northern parts.
- Bethlehem: 3°C to 26°C · partly cloudy · wind WNW at 10 km/h
- Kroonstad: 9°C to 28°C · partly cloudy · wind NNE at 5 km/h
Limpopo – Polokwane
10°C to 28°C · mostly clear · Rain 0% · light North Easterly.
Feels like 26°C · humidity 20 to 55% · UV low · wind NE at 10 km/h · cloud cover 25%.
SAWS regional outlook: Fine and warm but hot in the Western Bushveld.
- Tzaneen: 11°C to 28°C · mostly clear · wind ENE at 10 km/h
- Thohoyandou: 11°C to 30°C · partly cloudy · wind SSE at 5 km/h
- Musina: 13°C to 31°C · partly cloudy · wind ENE at 15 km/h
Mpumalanga – Mbombela
11°C to 28°C · mostly clear · Rain 0% · light North Easterly.
Feels like 28°C · humidity 30 to 65% · UV low · wind NE at 5 km/h · cloud cover 25%.
SAWS regional outlook: Morning fog patches in the south-eastern Highveld, otherwise fine and warm.
- eMalahleni: 12°C to 25°C · mostly clear · wind NNE at 5 km/h
- Ermelo: 12°C to 25°C · mostly clear · wind NNW at 5 km/h
North West – Mahikeng
10°C to 29°C · partly cloudy · Rain 0% · light North Easterly.
Feels like 27°C · humidity 15 to 40% · UV moderate · wind NE at 10 km/h · cloud cover 50%.
SAWS regional outlook: Fine and warm.
- Rustenburg: 9°C to 29°C · partly cloudy · wind NNE at 5 km/h
- Potchefstroom: 9°C to 29°C · partly cloudy · wind N at 10 km/h
- Klerksdorp: 8°C to 29°C · partly cloudy · wind N at 10 km/h
Northern Cape – Kimberley
9°C to 28°C · partly cloudy · Rain 0% · light North Westerly.
Feels like 25°C · humidity 15 to 35% · UV moderate · wind NW at 10 km/h · cloud cover 50%.
SAWS regional outlook: Fine and cool in places in the west, otherwise partly cloudy, windy and warm to hot with isolated showers in the extreme north. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong southerly to south-easterly.
- Upington: 15°C to 32°C · Showers and Thundershowers · wind NNW at 15 km/h
- Springbok: 14°C to 29°C · clear skies · wind E at 5 km/h
- De Aar: 11°C to 28°C · partly cloudy · wind WNW at 15 km/h
Tides & Sea Conditions
| Tide | Time (SAST) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 🌊 KwaZulu-Natal · Durban | ||
| 🌊 High tide | 05:14 | +0.8 m |
| 🏖️ Low tide | 11:14 | -0.8 m |
| 🌊 High tide | 17:35 | +0.9 m |
| 🌡️ Water 21.2°C · 🌊 waves 1.24 m · 8.5 s swell | ||
| 🌊 Eastern Cape · Gqeberha | ||
| 🌊 High tide | 05:11 | +0.4 m |
| 🏖️ Low tide | 11:11 | -1.0 m |
| 🌊 High tide | 17:30 | +0.5 m |
| 🌡️ Water 17.4°C · 🌊 waves 2.54 m · 10.95 s swell | ||
| 🌊 Eastern Cape · East London | ||
| 🌊 High tide | 05:14 | +0.5 m |
| 🏖️ Low tide | 11:15 | -0.9 m |
| 🌊 High tide | 17:34 | +0.7 m |
| 🌡️ Water 19.2°C · 🌊 waves 1.7 m · 11.3 s swell | ||
| 🌊 Western Cape · Cape Town | ||
| 🌊 High tide | 04:58 | +0.2 m |
| 🏖️ Low tide | 10:53 | -1.1 m |
| 🌊 High tide | 17:11 | +0.3 m |
| 🌡️ Water 13.0°C · 🌊 waves 2.82 m · 11.3 s swell | ||
| 🌊 Northern Cape · Port Nolloth | ||
| 🌊 High tide | 04:56 | +0.3 m |
| 🏖️ Low tide | 10:46 | -1.1 m |
| 🌊 High tide | 17:08 | +0.5 m |
| 🌡️ Water 10.8°C · 🌊 waves 2.72 m · 9.25 s swell | ||
From the Weather Community
Forecast data: South African Weather Service (weathersa.co.za). Tide times: tide-forecast.com; sea state and modelled tides for Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, East London, Port Nolloth: Open-Meteo Marine (those heights are relative to mean sea level).