‘Don’t Take Chances’: Severe Storms to Hit Northeastern SA on Friday

If you live in Limpopo, Mpumalanga or northern KwaZulu-Natal, this Friday is not the day to ignore the sky. The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning, signalling a high risk of intense thunderstorms that could bring flooding, hail, wind damage and dangerous lightning.

Where the Trouble Is Expected

The storms are expected to hit the northeastern quadrant of the country from late morning into the evening. Towns and cities on high alert include:

• Polokwane

• Mbombela (Nelspruit)

• Ermelo

• Surrounding rural districts where access roads and river crossings are already vulnerable

Locals know the drill a hot morning, then the sky goes dark without warning, and the storm arrives like a switch was flipped. But forecasters say this round could be particularly nasty.

Communities in parts of rural Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where flooding often cuts off schools, clinics and gravel roads, are being urged to plan ahead. Social media users have already begun sharing warnings and checking in with relatives in low-lying areas.

What Makes a Level 2 Warning Serious?

A Yellow Level 2 alert doesn’t mean panic, but it does mean disruption is likely, not just possible.

Forecasters warn of:

• Heavy downpours that could trigger localised flash flooding

• Damaging winds

• Falling trees

• Power disruptions

• Hail

• Lightning-related injuries

Images of last summer’s hailstorms in Tzaneen and Ermelo are circulating online again, with residents reminding each other to park cars under cover and avoid flooded bridges.

Not Just the Northeast

While the storm focus is on the northeast, the rest of the country won’t stay dry:

• 30% chance of showers across the central interior, including Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Upington

• Isolated coastal rain in the Western Cape and southern Eastern Cape, including Cape Agulhas, George and Port Beaufort

Cape Town residents can also expect wind gusts up to 45km/h along the southwestern coast, while KwaZulu-Natal’s shoreline may see winds of around 35km/h.

Temperatures: A Country Split in Two

South Africans will wake up to a mix of climates on Friday:

• Cooler conditions across the eastern highveld, especially storm-prone areas in Mpumalanga and Limpopo

• Warm to very hot weather over the western and central interior

• Near-scorching temperatures in parts of the Northern Cape, including Upington and Beaufort West

The turbulent heat inland is part of what fuels these violent afternoon thunderheads, a familiar summer pattern that can turn fatal in minutes.

Travel, Power and Safety Concerns

Authorities are urging road users, especially taxi and bus drivers, to exercise extreme caution. Slippery roads, poor visibility and sudden crosswinds have caused deadly accidents in past storms.

Emergency services warn they may face obstacles such as:

• Flooded low-level crossings

• Blocked roads from fallen trees

• Delays reaching rural communities

• Power outages affecting communication and response

Communities Already Responding

Some Limpopo residents have started clearing drains outside their homes and shops a lesson learnt from previous flooding in Seshego, Burgersfort and Giyani. Parents are monitoring school transport WhatsApp groups, and farmers in Mpumalanga are scrambling to secure equipment and livestock.

On TikTok and Facebook, people are sharing storm prep tips, from charging power banks to keeping gumboots and torches ready.

A Final Word: Stay Alert, Not Afraid

This isn’t the first time thunderstorms have tested the northeast and it won’t be the last. But with strong warnings in place and the memory of past summer disasters still fresh, communities are being urged to take this alert seriously.

If you’re travelling, working outdoors, or living in a flood-prone area, keep an eye on local weather updates and avoid unnecessary risks.

South Africans know how to survive a storm, but only if they don’t underestimate it.

{Source: IOL}

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