WEATHER TODAY: Severe thunderstorms for Pretoria, Ermelo and Ladysmith

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Yellow Level 2 warnings are in place for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, hail, damaging winds and lightning over parts of Gauteng outside the south-west, the Highveld of Mpumalanga and north-western KwaZulu-Natal from the afternoon into the night, with a Level 1 warning for parts of the Eastern Cape. Upington is the hottest at 37°C, and the best chance of rain, at 60%, is in Ermelo, eMalahleni, Newcastle and Queenstown. Extremely high fire danger is expected in places over Limpopo, the Northern Cape and the western Free State.

Weather warnings for Saturday 10 October

SAWS has 4 weather warnings in force for Saturday, the highest warning level 10 for veld fire conditions. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.

Visit truewildslot.com for more information.

Red level 10Veld Fire ConditionsWhereLephalale, Mogoto, AlldaysWhenSat 11:00 to 18:59Areas: Lephalale, Mogoto, Alldays.

• Conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75 in identified areas. Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.

What to do: Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time. All available aircraft are to be called for without delay.Yellow level 2Severe ThunderstormsWhereEscourt, Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, Dannhauser + 6 moreWhenSat 14:00 to 23:59Areas: Escourt, Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, Dannhauser, Dundee, Goodhom, Mooi River, Pomeroy, Newcastle, Royal National Park.

• Localised damage to infrastructure and settlements.
• Localised flooding of susceptible roads and bridges.
• Minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads and poor visibility.
• Difficult driving conditions on dirt and slippery roads.
• Large amounts of small hail/ large hail over an open area.
• Localised fire incidents.

What to do: Take caution or avoid traveling on bridges and roads in low lying areas as these may be susceptible to flooding and there may be sinkholes. Avoid outdoor activities as lightning, hail and flooding may result in injuries and death. If possible, stay indoors well clear of windows, shelter pets, and cover vehicles. Move livestock and cars to safe sheltered areas as there may be flying debris.Yellow level 2Severe ThunderstormsWhereHeidelberg, Standerton, Piet Retief, Pretoria + 12 moreWhenSat 13:00 to 22:59Areas: Heidelberg, Standerton, Piet Retief, Pretoria, Ermelo, Delmas, Meyerton, Balfour, Amersfoort, Witbank, Kempton park, Tweefontein, Secunda, Carolina, Middelburg, Machadodorp.

• Localised damage to infrastructure, settlements(informal), property,vehicles, livelihood and livestock.
• Localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges.
• Localised disruption to municipal services due to lightning activity.

What to do: Seek safe shelter from hail and lightning. Drive carefully. Stay away from flooded areas.Yellow level 1Severe ThunderstormsWhereQueenstown, Lady Frere, Burgersdorp, Cofimvaba + 7 moreWhenSat 09:00 to 22:59Areas: Queenstown, Lady Frere, Burgersdorp, Cofimvaba, Jamesto, Molteno, Tarkastad, Barkly East, Ngcobo, Cradock, Elliot.

• Localised damage to settlements, property, structures
• Dangerous and difficult driving conditions due to strong crosswinds.
• Danger to life.

What to do: If possible stay indoors away from metal objects. Do not seek shelter under trees or tall objects. Do not go fishing or play golf as both the golf clubs and fishing rods are a good conductor of electricity. Be aware that any combination of hail, strong winds, intense lightning and/or heavy downpours can accompany the storms.SAWS advisoryImpact-Based WarningsWhat2 items, tap to read

• Yellow Level 2 Warning: Severe Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning that may result in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements are expected over parts of Gauteng (except for the south-west), the Highveld of Mpumalanga, as well as the north-western parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
• Yellow Level 1 Warning: Severe Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and lightning that may resulting in localised damage to settlements and temporary structures, and localised disruptions to power and communication services, are expected in places over Chris Hani district municipality, as well as Walter Sisulu and Senqu local municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

SAWS advisoryFire Danger WarningsWhat1 item, tap to read

• Extremely high fire danger is expected in places over Limpopo, Northern Cape, as well as and the western parts of Free State.

Moon tonightNew Moon0% lit

The moon tonight is a new moon, about 0% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.

Weather today by province, Saturday 10 October

View 5-Day Weather Forecast

Each province lists its main towns with today’s sky, low and high, rain chance and wind; every province starts closed, tap one to open it. Tide times are inside Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Today Johannesburg peaks at 31°C.

Gauteng

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingA Level 2 severe thunderstorm warning covers parts outside the south-west from 13:00 to 22:59, including Pretoria and Heidelberg. Pretoria reaches 32°C and Johannesburg goes from 14°C to 31°C, with a 30% chance of thundershowers.Johannesburg todayRain, storms31°14°30%N 5 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close GautengTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hJohannesburgRain, storms14°31°30%N 5PretoriaRain, storms16°32°30%NE 5SowetoRain, storms12°31°30%N 5VereenigingRain, storms12°30°30%N 5

Western Cape

Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesA dry, clear day for the Cape Winelands, where Paarl reaches 31°C and Stellenbosch goes from 9°C to 30°C. Cape Town peaks at 29°C, while George sees high cloud and 21°C.Cape Town todayClear29°13°0%SE 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close Western CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hCape TownClear13°29°0%SE 10StellenboschClear9°30°0%E 5PaarlClear12°31°0%ESE 5GeorgeHigh cloud12°21°0%SE 10Tides: Cape TownDayLow tideHigh tideSat 10 Oct08:55, 21:2002:55, 15:05

Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 30°C and Polokwane reaches 30°C.

Mpumalanga

Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloLevel 2 storms are expected on the Highveld from 13:00 to 22:59, including Ermelo, Standerton, Piet Retief and Delmas. Ermelo and eMalahleni reach 28°C with a 60% rain chance, while Mbombela goes from 17°C to 30°C.Mbombela todayRain, storms30°17°30%ENE 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close MpumalangaTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMbombelaRain, storms17°30°30%ENE 10eMalahleniRain, storms14°28°60%N 10ErmeloRain, storms14°28°60%NNE 5

Limpopo

Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaA Level 10 veld fire warning holds for Lephalale, Mogoto and Alldays from 11:00 to 18:59. It stays dry and partly cloudy, with Musina at 34°C and Tzaneen and Thohoyandou at 32°C.Polokwane todayPartly cloudy30°16°0%ENE 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close LimpopoTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hPolokwanePartly cloudy16°30°0%ENE 10TzaneenPartly cloudy17°32°0%E 10ThohoyandouPartly cloudy17°32°0%E 10MusinaPartly cloudy18°34°0%E 15

North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 33°C and Bloemfontein reaches 32°C.

North West

Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpMahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp all reach 33°C, with a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers. Rustenburg starts the day at 18°C.Mahikeng todayRain, storms33°16°30%NNE 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close North WestTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMahikengRain, storms16°33°30%NNE 10RustenburgRain, storms18°33°30%N 5PotchefstroomRain, storms16°33°30%N 5KlerksdorpRain, storms17°33°30%NNE 5

Free State

Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadThe west faces extremely high fire danger. Kroonstad reaches 33°C, Bloemfontein goes from 12°C to 32°C and Bethlehem peaks at 30°C, with a 30% chance of thundershowers.Bloemfontein todayRain, storms32°12°30%NNE 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close Free StateTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hBloemfonteinRain, storms12°32°30%NNE 10BethlehemRain, storms13°30°30%ENE 5KroonstadRain, storms14°33°30%NE 5

Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 34°C, Gqeberha reaches 21°C and Durban reaches 26°C.

Northern Cape

Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesFire danger runs extremely high in places. Upington climbs from 19°C to 37°C, Kimberley reaches 34°C and De Aar 33°C, with a 30% chance of thundershowers, while Springbok stays clear at 33°C.Kimberley todayRain, storms34°15°30%NW 10 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close Northern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hKimberleyRain, storms15°34°30%NW 10UpingtonRain, storms19°37°30%NW 15SpringbokClear16°33°0%ESE 5De AarRain, storms13°33°30%NW 15Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)DayLow tideHigh tideSat 10 Oct08:08, 20:3302:13, 14:22

Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesA Level 1 severe thunderstorm warning runs from 09:00 to 22:59 for Queenstown, Lady Frere, Burgersdorp, Cofimvaba and Molteno. Queenstown reaches 30°C with a 60% rain chance, while Gqeberha stays cloudy at 21°C.Gqeberha todayCloudy21°13°0%E 15 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close Eastern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hGqeberhaCloudy13°21°0%E 15East LondonRain, storms13°23°30%E 10MthathaRain, storms12°26°30%ESE 10QueenstownRain, storms11°30°60%E 5Tides: GqeberhaDayLow tideHigh tideSat 10 Oct09:12, 21:3803:12, 15:26Tides: East LondonDayLow tideHigh tideSat 10 Oct09:14, 21:3803:16, 15:30

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesLevel 2 storms are expected from 14:00 to 23:59 around Ladysmith, Dundee and Dannhauser. Newcastle reaches 33°C with a 60% rain chance, Richards Bay 34°C and Durban 21°C to 26°C with slight rain.Durban todaySlight rain26°21°30%SSW 5 km/hTap for every town todayTap to close KwaZulu-NatalTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hDurbanSlight rain21°26°30%SSW 5PietermaritzburgSlight rain15°29°30%ESE 10Richards BaySlight rain17°34°30%NE 10NewcastleRain, storms16°33°60%NE 5Tides: DurbanDayLow tideHigh tideSat 10 Oct09:20, 21:4203:17, 15:31

View the 5-Day Weather Forecast

Forecast data: the South African Weather Service and other third-party sources and providers, brought together with the latest AI tools. We take great care to get every figure right, but mistakes are possible.

More weather news, warnings and forecasts are on The South African’s weather page.

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