Tuesday’s weather: Snowfall, hail and severe thunderstorms

Severe weather conditions are expected across South Africa on Tuesday, 5 May, including disruptive snowfall in the Western and Northern Cape, damaging hail in KwaZulu-Natal, and severe thunderstorms in the rest of the provinces. Here is what weather to expect tomorrow, according to the South African Weather Service (Saws). Theweather servicehas issued an orange level 6 and a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong damaging winds, hail and heavy downpours resulting in flooding of roads and settlements as well as damage to infrastructure over the northeastern and southeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

An orange level 6 warning has been issued for disruptive rain leading to flooding of settlements or property, roads, danger to life with some communities temporarily cut off in places along the coast between Tsitsikamma and Kei Mouth in the Eastern Cape, persisting into Thursday. For the Western Cape, a yellow level 4 warning has been issued for disruptive rain resulting in disruption to essential services and localised flooding over the Central Karoo and eastern parts of the Garden Route. A yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, and localised damage to settlements over an open area over the eastern and central parts of the North West; the eastern and central parts of Free State; the interior and eastern parts of the coast of the Eastern Cape; Gauteng; southern and central parts of Mpumalanga; and the Western Bushveld of Limpopo.

Furthermore, the weather service has issued a yellow level 2 warning for disruptive snowfall leading to icy and slippery roads in the Karoo Hoogland Municipality of the Northern Cape and Beaufort West Municipality of the Western Cape, persisting into Wednesday. Weather outlook for Tuesday & Wednesday, 5 – 6 May 2026.Cloudy & cold to cool conditions are expected with isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers possible over the central & eastern parts of the country, but widespread in the Eastern Cape & the Western Cape.#sawspic.twitter.com/N2WN1IloGq Residents can expect a cloudy and cool day with widespread showers and thundershowers. Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure.