Key Takeaways
- A red level 10 warning has been issued for heavy rain leading to widespread flooding in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
- Severe thunderstorms are expected in parts of the North West and Free State.
- Impact-based warnings have been issued for various provinces, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and Free State.
- The South African Weather Service (SAWS) uses a colour-coded system to indicate the level of risk, with red indicating a high impact, orange indicating a higher-risk impact, and yellow indicating a moderate risk.
Introduction to the Weather Warning
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for heavy rain leading to widespread flooding in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. A red level 10 warning has been issued, indicating a high impact and a high likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. This warning is the highest level of warning issued by the SAWS, and it indicates that disruptive rain with further heavy downpours is expected, leading to widespread flooding and danger to life due to fast-flowing streams.
Understanding Impact-Based Weather Warnings
Impact-based weather warnings are issued by the SAWS to inform the public of potential weather-related hazards. The warnings are colour-coded, with red indicating a high impact, orange indicating a higher-risk impact, and yellow indicating a moderate risk. The numbers used in the warnings indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring, with Level 10 indicating a high likelihood of impacts occurring. The SAWS uses this system to provide the public with clear and concise information about potential weather-related hazards, allowing them to take necessary precautions and stay safe.
Provincial Weather Forecast
The weather forecast for each province is as follows:
- Gauteng: Cloudy and cool to warm, with scattered showers and thundershowers.
- Mpumalanga: Warm over the Lowveld, otherwise cloudy and cool with widespread showers and thundershowers.
- Limpopo: Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers, widespread in the east.
- North West: Partly cloudy and hot with scattered showers and thundershowers, isolated in the extreme west.
- Free State: Partly cloudy and warm to hot, with scattered showers and thundershowers, isolated in the south.
- Northern Cape: Fine over the central parts, otherwise partly cloudy and warm to hot, but very hot in the north-central parts.
- Western Cape: Partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and rain along the south coast.
- Eastern Cape: Cloudy and cool with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog patches over the western and central interior, otherwise cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and rain, widespread in the north-east.
Weather Warning Details
The SAWS has issued the following weather warnings:
- Red level 10 warning: Disruptive rain with further heavy downpours leading to widespread flooding, resulting in danger to life due to fast-flowing streams, displacement of communities, widespread damage to settlements or structures over the northern escarpment and the Lowveld of Mpumalanga, as well as the southern Lowveld of Limpopo.
- Orange level 9 warning: Disruptive rainfall resulting in widespread flooding of roads and settlements, widespread mudslides, rockfalls and soil erosion, danger to life due to fast-flowing streams, widespread damage to property, buildings and loss of livelihood and livestock.
- Orange level 6 warning: Disruptive rainfall resulting in flooding of roads and settlements, mudslides, rockfalls and soil erosion, danger to life due to fast-flowing streams, as well as damage to property, infrastructure, loss of livelihood and livestock.
- Yellow level 4 warning: Disruptive rain with heavy downpours leading to flooding of roads and settlements, displacement of affected communities, and major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded or closed.
- Yellow level 2 warning: Disruptive rainfall resulting in localised flooding of susceptible formal/informal settlements or roads, low-lying areas and bridges, localised mudslides, rockfalls and soil erosion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the SAWS has issued a warning for heavy rain leading to widespread flooding in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The public is advised to take necessary precautions and stay safe during this time. The SAWS will continue to monitor the weather situation and provide updates as necessary. It is essential to stay informed and follow the instructions of local authorities to minimize the risk of weather-related hazards.