The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a detailed forecast for Friday, 7 February 2025, warning of severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and extreme heat in several provinces, with increased risks of localized flooding and fires. Here’s everything you need to know.
SAWS has issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in the central and western regions of the Free State, which may bring heavy downpours, localized flooding in low-lying areas, and potential damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Similar conditions are also expected in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape, where severe thunderstorms could lead to flooding and damage to property and infrastructure.
The Western Cape is expected to experience extremely high fire danger in most areas, except the extreme southeast, western parts of the Northern Cape, and Limpopo’s Lowveld. Meanwhile, exceptionally hot weather will affect the West Coast, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, and Little Karoo Districts in the Western Cape.
Province-by-Province Forecasts for Friday, 7 February
- Gauteng: Cloudy and warm conditions, with isolated showers and thundershowers.
- Mpumalanga: Morning drizzle and fog along the escarpment, with cloudy, cool to warm weather, and isolated showers and thundershowers. It will be hot in the Lowveld.
- Limpopo: Cloudy weather in the east and southcentral parts, with drizzle along the southern escarpment. The southern areas will be partly cloudy and warm, with isolated showers and thundershowers. Hot conditions are expected in the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley.
- North West: Partly cloudy, windy, and warm weather, with isolated showers and thundershowers. It will be hot in the northwestern regions.
- Free State: Cloudy, windy, and warm conditions, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.
- Northern Cape: Cloudy and windy weather in the east, with partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions in other areas, along with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. It will be very hot in the western regions.
- Western Cape: Partly cloudy with fog patches in the morning over the eastern parts, isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers in the northeast. The rest of the province will be fine and hot to very hot, with warmer conditions along the south coast.
- Eastern Cape (western half): Partly cloudy and cool weather, with isolated showers and thundershowers scattered over the interior. Morning fog is expected, with warm conditions in the northeast.
- Eastern Cape (eastern half): Morning fog in the interior, with cloudy and cool conditions and scattered showers and thundershowers.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog patches over the southern interior, followed by cloudy, cool to warm weather with scattered showers and rain. The UVB sunburn index will be high, so residents should take precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
Residents across the country should remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility of extreme weather events on Friday, including flooding and fire risks.