Brace yourself: more wild weather expected to lash South Africa this week

Brace yourself: more wild weather expected to lash South Africa this week

Just when many South Africans thought they’d seen the worst of the summer storms, the skies are gearing up for another dramatic act. After a weekend marked by flooding, hail and damaging winds, forecasters are warning that more unsettled weather is lined up for the days ahead.

From Gauteng to the Eastern Cape, and soon even parts of the Western Cape, the message is clear: keep an eye on the clouds.

Storms set the tone for the month

The month opened on a volatile note, with severe thunderstorms tearing through several provinces. In some areas, roads flooded within minutes, while strong winds uprooted trees and battered homes.

On Monday, residents near Dullstroom reported seeing what appeared to be a tornado forming, an alarming sight that quickly spread across social media. Around the same time, Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape was pelted by a hailstorm, damaging crops and vehicles.

For many, the images felt eerily familiar after a summer already marked by extreme weather events.

Rainfall totals tell a mixed story

Preliminary figures from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) show just how uneven the rainfall has been. Johannesburg’s Botanical Gardens recorded 40mm, while Pretoria’s Zoo measured 29mm. Belfast in Mpumalanga received 33mm, but Polokwane saw only 5mm. In contrast, Paul Roux in the Free State clocked another 40mm.

These sharp contrasts underline how unpredictable the current weather patterns have become.

Warnings still in place

SAWS has kept a yellow level 2 warning active for parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, cautioning residents about possible localised flooding, hail, lightning and damaging winds.

Meanwhile, meteorologists say a cut-off low system the first of the year is expected to bring unseasonal rain to the Western and Eastern Cape later this week, catching many residents off guard.

Farmers watch the skies anxiously

For farmers, the situation is bittersweet. TLU chairperson Bennie van Zyl said some agricultural areas, particularly in the northeast, have already suffered flood damage. Yet further south and west, farmers are still hoping the incoming systems will finally deliver much-needed rain.

As Vox Weather meteorologist Annette Botha noted, the next few days could be critical in determining whether this weather brings relief or further destruction.

A season of extremes

From viral tornado clips to flooded streets, public reaction online reflects a growing unease about South Africa’s increasingly extreme weather. While summer storms are nothing new, their intensity and unpredictability are raising fresh questions about preparedness, infrastructure and climate resilience.

For now, umbrellas, raincoats and caution remain essential, because this week’s forecast suggests the wild weather is far from over.

{Source: The Citizen}

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