Friday weather: Severe thunderstorms sweep across five provinces

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of storms, hail, flooding, and extremely high fire danger conditions on Friday across Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and nearby regions. The weather service has released its latest weather forecast for 27 February 2026. Theweather servicehas issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours leading to localised flooding of roads, bridges and low-lying areas as well as damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail, resulting in damage to infrastructure and settlements.

They are expected over Gauteng except the extreme southern parts, southern Mpumalanga except the extreme south-western parts, the central and eastern parts of the North West, the extreme south-western parts of Limpopo and the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State. Here’s what to expect in your province on Friday, 27 February 2026: Residents of Gauteng can expect partly cloudy and warm weather with scattered showers and thundershowers.

Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure. Mpumalanga residents can expect cloudy conditions in the morning; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers over the Highveld and escarpment areas. The day will be cloudy in the morning; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm to hot with scattered showers and thundershowers in the southwest; otherwise, it will be isolated, except for the extreme south-east. Partly cloudy and warm to hot weather awaits North West residents with scattered showers and thundershowers, but isolated in the west except in the extreme south-western parts.