Weather alert: Severe thunderstorms and hail threaten KZN, FS and NW

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of severe storms, flooding and hail in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West. The weather service has released its latest weather forecast for 21 February 2026. Theweather servicehas issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail that will result in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements.

They are expected over the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the northeastern part of the Eastern Cape, the southwestern part of the North West, and the eastern and northern parts of the Free State. Here’s what to expect in your province on Saturday, 21 February 2026: Residents of Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and warm weather with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers. Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.

Mpumalanga residents can expect morning fog along the escarpment and eastern Highveld; otherwise, the conditions will be partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers in the western Highveld in Mpumalanga. It will be hot in places in the Lowveld. The day will be partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated showers and thundershowers in the south-western Bushveld in Limpopo.

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Partly cloudy and warm to hot weather awaits North West residents with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. It will become cloudy in the afternoon, except in the south-east. Residents of the Free State can expect morning fog patches in the extreme east at first; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.

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