A yellow level four warning has been issued for the OR Tambo and Amathole districts in the Eastern Cape. Thunder, heat and fire danger are all set to share the stage as South Africans count down to the New Year. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued two severe thunderstorm warnings for New Year’s Eve, along with fire danger alerts and a heat advisory, as unsettled weather spreads across large parts of the country.
Senior SAWS forecaster Jacqueline Modika said a yellow level four warning has been issued for the OR Tambo and Amathole districts in the Eastern Cape. “These storms are expected to be accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail,” said Modika. “They could lead to localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements.” A yellow level two warning also covers Gauteng, parts of Limpopo, the Highveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga, the southern parts of the North West, parts of the Free State, and the eastern half of the Eastern Cape.
“These thunderstorms will also bring heavy rain, damaging winds and a lot of small hail in some areas,” Modika said. She said hot, dry and windy conditions have triggered a fire danger warning for the Northern Cape, parts of the Free State, and the Beaufort West municipality in the Western Cape. Residents are urged not to start fires or leave them unattended, as they could spread rapidly, according to Modika.
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In addition, an advisory has been issued for the Khâi-Ma Local Municipality in the Northern Cape, for very hot and uncomfortable conditions. Modika said Gauteng will be partly cloudy and warm, with scattered showers and thundershowers from late afternoon.
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