WEATHER TODAY: Damaging storms lash western KZN, heat wave on Mpumalanga Highveld
· The South African
.tsaw-c{font-family:Inter,system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Arial,sans-serif;color:#1c1f24;background:#f2f3f5;border-radius:14px;margin:0 0 8px;max-width:100%;overflow:hidden;box-sizing:border-box}.tsaw-c *{box-sizing:border-box}.tsaw-c>summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;display:block}.tsaw-c>summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.tsaw-c .ic{display:inline-block;width:28px;height:28px;line-height:0;vertical-align:middle}.tsaw-c .ic svg{width:28px;height:28px}.tsaw-sm{padding:9px 10px 8px}.tsaw-hd{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px}.tsaw-nm{flex:1;font-size:17px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-.02em;line-height:1.15;margin:0!important;text-transform:none}.tsaw-chev{flex:none;width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:50%;background:#fff;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;transition:transform .2s}.tsaw-chev:before{content:'';width:12px;height:12px;border:solid currentColor;border-width:0 3px 3px 0;transform:translateY(-3px) rotate(45deg)}details[open]>summary .tsaw-chev{transform:rotate(180deg)}.tsaw-tw{font-size:12px;color:#6b7280;margin-top:1px}.tsaw-tx{font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.4;margin:5px 0 6px}.tsaw-lb{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:3px}.tsaw-row{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(7,minmax(0,1fr));gap:3px}.tsaw-d{background:#fff;border-radius:9px;padding:5px 2px 6px;text-align:center;font-size:13px;line-height:1.25}.tsaw-d b{display:inline;font-size:14.5px}.tsaw-dt{display:block;color:#6b7280;font-size:12px;margin-left:0}.tsaw-mo{display:none}.tsaw-d .ic{display:inline-block;width:20px;height:20px;margin:0;vertical-align:-4px}.tsaw-d .ic svg{width:20px;height:20px}.tsaw-dr{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:1px 3px;margin-top:2px}.tsaw-d .tsaw-rn{flex-basis:100%;max-width:max-content;margin:1px auto 0}.tsaw-c i,.tsaw-wa{font-style:normal}.tsaw-d .tsaw-hi{display:inline;color:#F84444;font-weight:800;font-size:15.5px}.tsaw-d .tsaw-lo{display:inline;color:#2f6fde;font-weight:600;font-size:13px}.tsaw-rn{display:inline-block;margin:0;padding:1px 6px;border-radius:99px;background:#e3edfd;color:#2f6fde;font-size:12px;font-weight:700}.tsaw-rz{background:#eceef1;color:#9aa0a8}.tsaw-td{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px 10px;flex-wrap:wrap;background:#fff;border-radius:9px;padding:7px 10px;font-size:15px}.tsaw-td .ic{width:26px;height:26px;vertical-align:-7px}.tsaw-td .ic svg{width:26px;height:26px}.tsaw-td .tsaw-hi{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;color:#F84444}.tsaw-td .tsaw-lo{font-size:14.5px;font-weight:600;color:#2f6fde}.tsaw-td .tsaw-rn{margin:0;font-size:13px}.tsaw-td small.w{color:#4b5563;font-size:14px}.tsaw-cta{margin:4px 0 14px!important;text-align:center}.tsaw-cta small{display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:14.5px;color:#374151}.tsaw-cta small a{display:inline;background:none;color:#F84444!important;font-weight:700;font-size:inherit;letter-spacing:0;padding:0;border-radius:0;text-decoration:underline!important}.tsaw-cta small a:after{content:none}.tsaw-cta a{display:inline-block;background:#F84444;color:#fff!important;text-decoration:none!important;font-family:Inter,system-ui,sans-serif;font-weight:800;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:.02em;padding:10px 18px;border-radius:999px}.tsaw-cta a:after{content:' \2192'}.tsaw-more{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin:7px -10px -8px;padding:8px 10px;background:#e6e8ec;border-top:1px solid #d9dce2;font-size:12.5px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.03em;color:#2a5fc4}.tsaw-more b{display:inline-block;background:#F84444;color:#fff;padding:8px 16px;border-radius:999px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.18)}.tsaw-more .o:after{content:' \2193'}.tsaw-more .c:after{content:' \2191'}.tsaw-more .c{display:none}.tsaw-more i{display:none}details[open]>summary .tsaw-more .o{display:none}details[open]>summary .tsaw-more .c{display:inline}.tsaw-bd{padding:0 10px 10px}.tsaw-tb{background:#fff;border-radius:10px;padding:8px 6px;margin-top:6px}.tsaw-tt{font-weight:700;font-size:15px!important;line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 6px 3px!important;padding:0!important;text-transform:none!important;letter-spacing:0!important;color:#111}.tsaw-tb table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed;font-size:12.5px!important;margin:0;line-height:1.25}.tsaw-tb th{text-align:left;color:#6b7280;font-weight:600;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;padding:5px 2px 5px 5px!important;border:0!important;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb!important;white-space:nowrap;background:transparent!important}.tsaw-tb th:last-child{white-space:normal;line-height:1.15}.tsaw-tb td{padding:6px 2px 6px 5px!important;border:0!important;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb!important;vertical-align:middle;background:transparent!important;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:nowrap;font-size:inherit!important}.tsaw-tb td:nth-child(2){white-space:normal}.tsaw-tb td:first-child{white-space:normal;overflow-wrap:anywhere;line-height:1.2}.tsaw-tb tr:last-child td{border-bottom:0!important}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(1){width:33%}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(2){width:18%}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(3),.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(4){width:8.5%}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(5){width:10.5%}.tsaw-tb td:nth-child(n+3),.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(n+3){padding-left:4px!important;padding-right:1px!important}.tsaw-tb td:nth-child(3),.tsaw-tb td:nth-child(4){padding-left:2px!important;padding-right:0!important}.tsaw-tb td:nth-child(6){letter-spacing:-.5px;white-space:normal}.tsaw-tb td b.ln{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:-.6px}.tsaw-tb td .ic{display:block;width:22px;height:22px}.tsaw-tb td .ic svg{width:22px;height:22px}.tsaw-tb td .dd{display:block;font-size:12px}.tsaw-tb small{font-size:12px}.tsaw-wa{display:inline-block;width:13px;height:13px;vertical-align:-2px;margin-right:2px;color:#2f6fde;line-height:0}.tsaw-wa svg{width:13px;height:13px;display:block}.tsaw-tb td.tsaw-lo{color:#2f6fde;font-weight:600}.tsaw-tb td.tsaw-hi{color:#F84444;font-weight:800;font-size:13px}.tsaw-tide th:nth-child(1){width:26%}.tsaw-tide th:nth-child(2),.tsaw-tide th:nth-child(3){width:37%}.tsaw-band{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:6px 12px;font-weight:800;font-size:12.5px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.05em}.tsaw-band b{flex:1}.tsaw-y .tsaw-band{background:#FFD23F;color:#3a2d00}.tsaw-o .tsaw-band{background:#F07C1E;color:#fff}.tsaw-r .tsaw-band{background:#D7263D;color:#fff}.tsaw-a .tsaw-band{background:#3b4250;color:#fff}.tsaw-band .tsaw-chev{background:rgba(255,255,255,.55);width:30px;height:30px}.tsaw-ev{padding:8px 12px 9px}.tsaw-et{font-size:15px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-.01em;margin-bottom:3px}.tsaw-mt{display:flex;gap:8px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.35;margin-top:2px}.tsaw-mt b{flex:none;width:46px;color:#6b7280;font-size:12px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;padding-top:2px}.tsaw-in{margin:0 12px 12px;background:#fff;border-radius:10px;padding:9px 11px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.45}.tsaw-in ul{margin:.3em 0 .3em 1.1em;padding:0}.tsaw-m{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:10px 12px}.tsaw-m svg{flex:none;width:48px;height:48px}.tsaw-mn{font-size:16px;font-weight:800}.tsaw-mk{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.07em;color:#6b7280}.tsaw-mp{display:inline-block;margin:4px 0 0;padding:2px 8px;border-radius:99px;background:#fff;font-size:12px;font-weight:700;color:#6b7280}@media(min-width:600px){.tsaw-sm{padding:11px 14px 10px}.tsaw-bd{padding:0 14px 12px}.tsaw-nm{font-size:19px}.tsaw-row{gap:6px}.tsaw-d{padding:5px 4px 6px;font-size:13px}.tsaw-d b{font-size:14.5px}.tsaw-d .tsaw-hi{font-size:16px}.tsaw-d .tsaw-lo{font-size:13.5px}.tsaw-mo{display:inline}.tsaw-dt{display:inline;font-size:12.5px;margin-left:3px}.tsaw-d .ic{width:20px;height:20px}.tsaw-d .ic svg{width:20px;height:20px}.tsaw-d .tsaw-rn{flex-basis:auto;margin:0 0 0 2px}.tsaw-tb{padding:10px}.tsaw-tb table{font-size:14px!important}.tsaw-tb th{font-size:12px}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(1){width:20%}.tsaw-tb th:nth-child(2){width:30%}.tsaw-tb td b.ln{font-size:inherit;letter-spacing:0}.tsaw-tb td .dd{display:inline;margin-right:4px}.tsaw-tb td .ic{display:inline-block;margin-right:4px}.tsaw-band,.tsaw-ev{padding-left:14px;padding-right:14px}.tsaw-in{margin:0 14px 12px}.tsaw-m{padding:10px 14px}.tsaw-more{margin:8px -14px -10px;padding:8px 14px;font-size:12px}}(function(){if(window.pgTsaWxGa)return;window.pgTsaWxGa=1;document.addEventListener('click',function(e){var s=e.target.closest?e.target.closest('summary'):null;if(!s)return;var d=s.parentNode;if(!d)return;if(d.tagName!='DETAILS')return;if(d.open)return;var q=['h3','.tsaw-et','b'],h=null;for(var i=0;i!=q.length;i++){h=s.querySelector(q[i]);if(h)break;}var t=((h||s).textContent||'').replace(/\s+/g,' ').trim().slice(0,90);var cl=String(d.className||'').split(' ');var k=cl[1]||cl[0]||'details';window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer||[];(window.gtag||function(){dataLayer.push(arguments)})('event','click_weather_pubgentiq',{send_to:'G-4YB9PN6FWW',weather_section:t,section_type:k,page_path:location.pathname});},true);})();
A Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, damaging winds and localised flooding is in place for Ladysmith, Estcourt, Underberg, Utrecht, Dannhauser and Ekuvukeni from 07:00 to 21:59. Musina is the hottest place at 38°C, and Gqeberha is the wettest with an 80% chance of rain. Extremely high fire danger is expected over the central interior, most of Gauteng and Limpopo, and parts of western Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.
Weather warnings for Sunday 18 October
SAWS has 2 weather warnings in force for Sunday, the highest warning level 2 for severe thunderstorms. Tap a warning to see the areas and what to do.
Visit newsbetting.club for more information.
Yellow level 2Severe ThunderstormsWhereEscourt, Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, Dannhauser + 17 moreWhenSun 07:00 to 21:59Areas: Escourt, Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, Dannhauser, Underberg, Utrecht, Dundee, Kokstad, Impendle, Donnybrook, Goodhom, Giants Castle, Mooi River, Pomeroy, Newcastle, Royal National Park, Richmond, Pietermaritzburg, Ixopo, Howick, Umzimkhulu.- 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.
- Persistently high temperatures affect the humans ability to cool their bodies through sweating. This can be a real threat that leads to heat related illness such as hyperthermia, heat stroke and respiratory conditions.
- In an extremely hot environment, the serious health and safety concern is heat stroke.
- Yellow Level 2 Warning: Severe Thunderstorms with heavy downpours, damaging winds resulting in localised damage to infrastructure and settlements, localised flooding of susceptible roads and bridges is expected over the western and southern interior of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the central interior, in places in western Mpumalanga and in places in Eastern Cape as well as most places in Gauteng and Limpopo.
- A heat wave with persistently high temperatures is expected in places on the Mpumalanga Highveld and southern parts of the Mpumalanga Lowveld, persisting until Monday.
- Very hot to Extremely hot temperatures will result in uncomfortable conditions in places in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, and across Limpopo on Monday.
The moon tonight is a first quarter, about 51% lit, and the next full moon is on Monday 26 October.
Weather today by province, Sunday 18 October
View 7-Day Weather ForecastView the weather tomorrow on the 7-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 32°C.
Gauteng
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, VereenigingHot and dry, with Pretoria reaching 35°C, Soweto 33°C and Johannesburg and Vereeniging 32°C under partly cloudy skies. No rain is expected and fire danger is extremely high in most places.Johannesburg todayPartly cloudy32°14°0%N 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close GautengTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hJohannesburgPartly cloudy14°32°0%N 10PretoriaPartly cloudy17°35°0%NE 10SowetoPartly cloudy15°33°0%N 10VereenigingPartly cloudy15°32°0%N 10Western Cape
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, George · tidesGeorge has a 60% chance of rain showers and only 14°C, while Stellenbosch and Paarl have a 30% chance and 17°C to 18°C. Cape Town is cloudy and dry, from 13°C to 18°C.Cape Town todayCloudy18°13°0%SSE 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Western CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hCape TownCloudy13°18°0%SSE 15StellenboschRain showers10°17°30%SSE 10PaarlRain showers12°18°30%SSE 5GeorgeRain showers12°14°60%SSW 10Tides: Cape TownDayLow tideHigh tideSun 18 Oct01:15, 14:3008:04, 20:27Mpumalanga and Limpopo next today: Mbombela reaches 32°C and Polokwane reaches 31°C.
Mpumalanga
Mbombela, eMalahleni, ErmeloA heat wave holds in places on the Highveld and the southern Lowveld, and a weather advisory covers Ermelo, Standerton, Piet Retief, Barberton, Nelspruit and Skukuza. Mbombela and eMalahleni reach 32°C, Ermelo 29°C, all dry.Mbombela todayPartly cloudy32°17°0%NE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close MpumalangaTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMbombelaPartly cloudy17°32°0%NE 10eMalahleniPartly cloudy16°32°0%NNW 15ErmeloPartly cloudy14°29°0%NNE 10Limpopo
Polokwane, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou, MusinaVery hot and dry, with clear skies over Musina at 38°C and Tzaneen and Thohoyandou at 35°C, while Polokwane is partly cloudy at 31°C. Fire danger is extremely high in most places.Polokwane todayPartly cloudy31°19°0%NE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close LimpopoTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hPolokwanePartly cloudy19°31°0%NE 10TzaneenClear16°35°0%ENE 10ThohoyandouClear18°35°0%E 10MusinaClear19°38°0%E 10North West and Free State follow today: Mahikeng reaches 35°C and Bloemfontein reaches 32°C.
North West
Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, KlerksdorpMahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp all climb to 35°C under partly cloudy skies, with morning lows of 15°C to 17°C. No rain is expected anywhere.Mahikeng todayPartly cloudy35°16°0%NNW 15 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close North WestTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hMahikengPartly cloudy16°35°0%NNW 15RustenburgPartly cloudy17°35°0%N 10PotchefstroomPartly cloudy15°35°0%NNW 15KlerksdorpPartly cloudy16°35°0%NNW 15Free State
Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, KroonstadBloemfontein has a 60% chance of showers and thundershowers, from 14°C to 32°C, and Bethlehem a 30% chance with a high of 32°C. Kroonstad stays dry and warm at 34°C.Bloemfontein todayRain, storms32°14°60%NW 20 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Free StateTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hBloemfonteinRain, storms14°32°60%NW 20BethlehemRain, storms10°32°30%NW 10KroonstadPartly cloudy16°34°0%NW 10Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal close the list today: Kimberley reaches 33°C, Gqeberha reaches 19°C and Durban reaches 26°C.
Northern Cape
Kimberley, Upington, Springbok, De Aar · tidesKimberley, Upington and De Aar each have a 30% chance of showers and thundershowers, with highs of 33°C, 30°C and 29°C. Springbok is cloudy, dry and much cooler at 20°C.Kimberley todayRain, storms33°17°30%WNW 20 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Northern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hKimberleyRain, storms17°33°30%WNW 20UpingtonRain, storms15°30°30%W 15SpringbokCloudy12°20°0%SW 15De AarRain, storms14°29°30%WNW 20Tides: Port Nolloth (modelled)DayLow tideHigh tideSun 18 Oct00:54, 14:0007:22, 19:47Eastern Cape
Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Queenstown · tidesGqeberha has an 80% chance of rain showers and a high of 19°C. East London and Mthatha have a 60% chance, with highs of 22°C and 23°C, and Queenstown a 60% chance of thundershowers at 24°C.Gqeberha todayRain showers19°15°80%ESE 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close Eastern CapeTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hGqeberhaRain showers15°19°80%ESE 10East LondonRain showers17°22°60%ENE 15MthathaRain showers16°23°60%ESE 10QueenstownRain, storms13°24°60%E 5Tides: GqeberhaDayLow tideHigh tideSun 18 Oct01:07, 13:4407:57, 20:05Tides: East LondonDayLow tideHigh tideSun 18 Oct01:08, 13:4307:38, 19:37KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle · tidesA Level 2 severe thunderstorm warning covers Ladysmith, Estcourt, Underberg, Utrecht, Dannhauser and Ekuvukeni from 07:00 to 21:59. Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Newcastle have a 60% storm chance and highs of 26°C, 29°C and 35°C; Richards Bay is dry at 35°C.Durban todayRain, storms26°20°60%E 10 km/hTap for cities and townsTap to close KwaZulu-NatalTowns todayTownWeatherLoHiRainWind km/hDurbanRain, storms20°26°60%E 10PietermaritzburgRain, storms16°29°60%E 10Richards BayCloudy19°35°0%NE 10NewcastleRain, storms15°35°60%NE 10Tides: DurbanDayLow tideHigh tideSun 18 Oct00:58, 13:2407:22, 19:27View the 7-Day Weather ForecastView the weather tomorrow on the 7-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.