South Africa faces severe thunderstorms and high fire danger
Yellow Level 4 warnings issued for Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, North West, and KwaZulu-Natal, with extreme fire conditions in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.
South Africa is bracing for severe weather on Thursday, November 5, 2026, with widespread thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail expected in several provinces. A yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms, bringing flooding and property damage, covers Gauteng, Mpumalanga Highveld, central-southern Limpopo, eastern Free State and North West, and most of KwaZulu-Natal. These storms may cause localized power and communication disruptions.
Extreme fire danger conditions are forecast for the Northern Cape, most of the Eastern Cape interior, and parts of the Western Cape, Free State, North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. The South African Weather Service has issued a Red Level 10 warning for veld fires in areas including Molteno, Queenstown, and Grahamstown, advising the public against starting fires due to risks of property damage, loss of grazing, and potential loss of life.
Specific storm warnings are in place for areas like Rustenburg, Frankfort, Hartebeespoort, and Reitz, with storms expected between 13:00 and 23:59. Meanwhile, Musina, Kimberley, and Mthatha are predicted to be the hottest cities, reaching 38°C. The weather service also noted very high UVB sunburn index levels for Gauteng, advising precautions against sun exposure.
Why it mattersResidents across multiple South African provinces face risks of property damage, flooding, and dangerous fire conditions due to severe weather warnings.