The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms expected on Monday across northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Mpumalanga escarpment, and eastern Free State.
The warning covers heavy downpours, large hail, frequent lightning, and damaging winds. The Weather Service said the storms could cause flooding in low-lying settlements, damage to property and infrastructure, and danger to livestock.
Why it matters
A Level 4 warning is the second-highest on the Weather Service’s scale and signals a high likelihood of significant impact. KwaZulu-Natal has experienced repeated flood disasters in recent years, most notably the April 2022 floods that killed over 400 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
Areas affected
The Level 4 zone covers the eastern Free State, northern KwaZulu-Natal, and the escarpment areas of Mpumalanga. A separate Yellow Level 2 warning extends to North West, the western Free State, south-western Limpopo, Gauteng, the Mpumalanga Highveld, and southern KwaZulu-Natal.
Mpumalanga can expect cloudy and cool to warm conditions with widespread showers and thundershowers along the escarpment, and isolated to scattered storms elsewhere in the province.
Safety advice
The Weather Service urged residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers and roads, to secure loose outdoor objects, and to stay indoors during lightning. Emergency services in affected provinces have been placed on standby.
Motorists travelling on the N3 between Gauteng and Durban have been warned to expect reduced visibility and wet road surfaces from Monday afternoon.