Weather service warns of severe thunderstorms in two provinces on Friday

The South African Weather Service (Saws) is warning of severe thunderstorms in the Western Cape and Northern Cape regions on Friday, September 25, 2026. A cut-off low-pressure system is expected to impact the western parts of South Africa, bringing significant hail, lightning, and strong winds. These storms could lead to dangerous conditions, including potential fires in the northeastern parts of the Northern Cape.

For Gauteng, expect partly cloudy and warm conditions with a very high UVB sunburn index. In Mpumalanga, morning fog patches may be present along the escarpment, but otherwise, expect partly cloudy and cool to warm weather with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers, except in the extreme southwestern areas.

Limpopo will start cloudy in the east but transition to partly cloudy and warm with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers, especially in the eastern and south-western parts. North West will be fine and warm, turning partly cloudy in the afternoon, with isolated showers and thundershowers in the eastern regions.

The Free State will also enjoy fine and warm weather, turning partly cloudy in the afternoon. In the Northern Cape, expect partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions, with scattered showers and thundershowers over the western and southern high-ground, becoming widespread in the western parts.

Along the coastal regions, winds will be light and variable in the morning, becoming fresh to strong easterly to north-easterly, and strong northerly along the northern coastline. In the Western Cape, anticipate partly cloudy mornings in the Little and Central Karoo, with widespread showers and thundershowers in the afternoon. The wind along the coast will be light and variable, shifting to moderate north-westerly in the afternoon, and becoming fresh easterly to south-easterly from the afternoon.