Weather alert: Heavy downpours, strong winds and rough seas

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of heavy downpours in five provinces, strong winds in the Northern Cape and rough seas in the Western Cape. Here is what weather to expect on Saturday, 28 February. Theweather servicehas issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and excessive lightning in the North West, southern parts of Gauteng, northwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the southern Highveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga, and the northern parts of the Free State.

This could result in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements. A yellow level 1 warning has been issued for damaging winds leading to damage to settlements and temporary structures in the southeastern parts of the Northern Cape. Saws has also issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves leading to localised damage to coastal infrastructure and difficulty in navigation at sea between the Western Cape’s Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas in the evening, spreading to Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape on Sunday morning.

Expect extremely high fire danger conditions in places over the Free State, Northern Cape, extreme southwestern parts of the North West and the northern parts of the Eastern Cape. Saws has warns of hot and humid weather resulting in extremely uncomfortable conditions in places along the Wild Coast and adjacent interior of the Eastern Cape. Weather outlook for Saturday & Sunday, 28 Feb – 01 March 2026.Cloudy & cool conditions are expected in the east. Otherwise, partly cloudy & warm with isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers possible over the central & eastern parts of the country.#saws#weatheroutlookpic.twitter.com/wCTSgYmMNP Here’s what to expect in your province on 28 February: Residents can expect cloudy skies in the morning; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and cool to warm with scattered afternoon thundershowers, but isolated in the north.