Tuesday weather: Severe storms, flooding and damaging winds threaten KZN as rain sweeps parts of SA

South Africans across multiple provinces faced a wet and potentially severe weather day on Tuesday, October 6, as the South African Weather Service issued a series of warnings. KwaZulu-Natal bore the brunt of the threat, with Yellow Level 2 warnings for severe thunderstorms and damaging winds. Elsewhere, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo regions also faced unsettled weather conditions.

In KwaZulu-Natal, a 60% chance of rain and thunderstorms was forecasted, particularly towards the south and along the coast. Isolated storms in northern areas could produce heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail, and excessive lightning, posing a risk of localised flooding and damage to settlements and infrastructure. Strong southerly to south-westerly winds, ranging from 40km/h to 60km/h with gusts up to 85km/h, were expected along the KwaZulu-Natal coast and adjacent interior between Port Edward and Richards Bay.

Slippery roads, poor visibility, and high-sided vehicle difficulties were possible on exposed roads and bridges.

The Eastern Cape and Western Cape regions also experienced a 60% and 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, respectively. Meanwhile, strong to near-gale-force winds along the south and south-west coast and high waves (4-5 meters) between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas could create rough seas, making navigation difficult and posing risks to small vessels.