Weather alert: Damaging winds, storms and rough seas loom

A series of impactful weather warnings have been issued for September 13, 2026, as the South African Weather Service predicts a mix of damaging winds, storms, and rough seas. A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for damaging winds in the northeastern parts of the Northern Cape and western areas of North West. These winds could potentially cause damage to both formal and informal settlements, as well as temporary structures.

Additionally, a Yellow Level 1 warning is in effect for winds and waves between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas, with navigational difficulties and a risk of small vessels capsizing.

A developing cut-off low pressure system is expected to impact the Western and Northern Cape from Sunday into Monday, bringing with it intermittent showers, thundershowers, heavy downpours, possible large hail, and lightning. Windy conditions are also anticipated along the coast and interior, while very rough seas, ranging from 4 to 4.5 meters, are predicted south of Table Bay.

In Gauteng, expect a fine and warm day with a very high UVB sunburn index. Mpumalanga will have morning fog patches in the eastern parts, but otherwise, it will be fine and warm, with high temperatures in the Western Bushveld. Limpopo will also experience morning fog patches in the south-east, with generally warm conditions, particularly in the Western Bushveld.

North West will be warm and fine, turning partly cloudy in the afternoon, while the Free State will be warm and fine, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon with scattered showers and thundershowers in the south-west. Northern Cape will be partly cloudy and warm to hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers, particularly in the central and western areas where it will be cloudy and cool. Moderate northerly to north-westerly winds are expected along the coast in the Western Cape, with moderate UVB sunburn index.

Eastern Cape will see warm conditions in the north-east and cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers elsewhere. Moderate to fresh easterly winds are expected along the coast, becoming fresh to strong north-easterly in the afternoon. KwaZulu-Natal will experience morning and evening fog patches over the interior, with partly cloudy to cloudy and warm conditions, scattered showers and rain, and light to moderate easterly to north-easterly winds along the coast.