Severe Thunderstorms
Image source: Flickr
Weekend weather for SA: High temperatures, thunderstorms across the country
SA is in for a hot and rainy weekend with thunderstorms expected in each province. The Eastern and Western Cape can expect some relief from persistently high temperatures.
Severe Thunderstorms
Image source: Flickr
Similar to last week, South Africa is in for another wet and hot weekend. The Eastern and Western Cape will be the hottest provinces while thunderstorms are expected elsewhere but temperatures stay in the mid to high 20s. Here’s a comprehensive summary of what’s in store for us, between now and Monday morning.
WEEKEND WEATHER: RAIN FORECAST FOR 15-16 JANUARY 2022
SATURDAY 15 JANUARY:
Most of the rain on Saturday will be concentrated in the central interior of the country with very few places receiving more than 0,2 inches of rainfall. Live screenshot: Ventusky.
SUNDAY, 16 JANUARY:
On Sunday, the rain clouds move to the east of South Africa. Some of the most affected places include Bloemfontein and Pietermaritzburg. Live screenshot: Ventusky.
WEEKEND WEATHER WARNINGS FOR 15-16 JANUARY 2022
WESTERN CAPE:
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued an extreme heat advisory for the Western Cape on Thursday afternoon, 13 January. The warning is in place from Thursday until the weekend and is expected to affect the City of Cape Town and the interior of the province.
The extreme heat advisory is in effect from 12:00 on Thursday until 19:00 on Saturday.
READ MORE: Rare ‘extreme heat warning’ issued for next 48 hours
EASTERN CAPE:
The weather service said that severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the Blue Crane Route/Somerset East on Saturday and issued a Level 2 warning.
“We advise people: to stay indoors if possible, away from open windows; not to lean against trees, poles and tall buildings; not to cross flooded areas whether walking or driving,” said SAWS.
The thunderstorm warning is in effect from 12:00 until 23:59 on Saturday.
NORTHERN CAPE:
The weather service also issued a warning for thunderstorms in the Northern and Western Cape from Saturday to Sunday:
LOCAL FOCUS: WEEKEND FORECAST FOR CAPE TOWN, GAUTENG AND DURBAN
Cape Town is expected to have some relief from the sweltering heat on Saturday with temperatures dropping to a high of 26C – some drizzle is expected in the morning. Sunday should have cloudy skies and a high of 23C.
Gauteng is expected to have a wet weekend in the west – with thundershowers in Soweto, which is expected to have a high of 23C, along with the City of Johannesburg. Tshwane and surrounds are expected to be partly cloudy at 25C.
Durban will be in for cloudy skies and thunderstorms for most of the weekend. On Saturday, the temperature is expected to max out at 27C right when the showers and thunderstorms are predicted to start. Sunday has a high of 25C but everything else is the same.
HIGHEST AND LOWEST WEEKEND TEMPERATURES
- The HIGHEST temperature on Saturday will be 39C near Waterford, Eastern Cape; 39C near Sitrus outside Gqeberha and 39C near Oudtshoorn, Western Cape at 12:00.
- The LOWEST temperatures on Saturday will be 13C in Witsiehoek, Phuthaditjhaba, Free State between 4:00 to 6:00.
- The HIGHEST temperatures on Sunday will be 33C near Glenconnor, Eastern Cape, at 12:00.
- The LOWEST temperature on Sunday will be 14C in Barkley East, Eastern Cape and Dullstroom, Mpumalanga between 4:00 to 6:00.
OVERVIEW: LATEST PROVINCIAL WEEKEND WEATHER FORECASTS FOR SATURDAY 15 JANUARY
- Western Cape: Highs of 37 to 41C, lows of 18C, sunny and partly cloudy spells along the coast while the interior will be hotter despite the thunderstorms.
- Northern Cape: Highs of 33C, lows of 15C, hot with thunderstorms expected across the province except near the western coastline.
- Eastern Cape: Highs of 37C, lows of 13C, mostly partly cloudy in the east and along the coast, thunderstorms expected in the western half of the central interior.
- Free State: Highs of 28C, lows of 14C, thunderstorms across the province.
- North West: Highs of 29C, lows of 15C, thunderstorms across the province
- Gauteng: Highs of 25C, lows of 14C, partly cloudy in the eastern half of the province, increasing cloud cover to the west, including thunderstorms.
- Limpopo: Highs of 31C, lows of 16C, hot across the province with partly cloudy skies.
- Mpumalanga: Highs of 28C, lows of 14C, thunderstorms across most of the province, the far eastern parts have partly cloudy skies.
- KZN: Highs of 30C, lows of 14C, thunderstorms across the province.
