Heat Grips the Interior While KwaZulu-Natal Braces for Heavy Rain

South Africa heads into the weekend under a split sky: blistering heat for much of the interior, and stormy, rain-soaked conditions for the east. For some, it’s a perfect Friday braai under clear skies; for others, it’s a day of dodging puddles and preparing for possible flooding.

A Country of Contrasts

Friday morning started cool in the west and central interior, with places like Bloemfontein waking up to a frosty 1°C. But by afternoon, temperatures will soar, Upington bakes at 35°C, while Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Free State will hit highs close to 30°C.

Along the east coast, it’s a different story. Durban tops out at 21°C, but with showers and thundershowers predicted, the mood feels far from summery. The north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal face a warning for disruptive rainfall, raising concerns about localised flooding.

City-by-City Forecasts

• Pretoria: A hot, sunny day peaking at 29°C after a crisp 10°C start.

• Johannesburg: Warm to hot, 28°C during the day before dropping to 8°C overnight.

• Cape Town: Fine and warm, hitting 24°C with a low of 11°C.

• Durban: Cloudy, thundery, and wet at 21°C with overnight lows of 17°C.

• Bloemfontein: Hot and dry, 29°C after a freezing morning.

• Polokwane: Partly cloudy, comfortably warm at 26°C.

• Upington: Scorching at 35°C under clear skies.

• Gqeberha: Mild and cloudy, reaching 19°C.

• East London: Partly cloudy with possible showers, around 20°C.

Weather Alerts to Watch

• Disruptive rainfall expected in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal.

• Very hot conditions in the Free State and Northern Cape.

• Isolated thundershowers over Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

What It Means for You

If you’re inland, keep hydrated and limit outdoor activity during the midday heat. For those on the east coastespecially in KZNit’s best to keep an eye on updates from disaster management teams, as heavy rain could affect low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Western Cape residents can look forward to a breezy but calm start to the weekendperfect for wine estates and outdoor markets.

A Familiar South African Story

South Africans are no strangers to weather extremes: a blazing sun on one side of the country, rolling thunderstorms on the other. The mix of heat and rain is a reminder of our unique climate diversityand the way it shapes daily life, from farming to weekend plans.

So, whether you’re reaching for sunscreen or an umbrella today, one thing is certain: the weather will be a talking point at dinner tables across the nation.

{Source: IOL}

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