Johannesburg – The SA Weather Service (SAWS) on Friday predicted stormy weather over central and eastern South Africa this festive weekend through to Christmas Day and the Day of Goodwill, (23 to 26 December 2023).
SAWS said after a spell of “hot to very hot and mostly dry weather” across large parts of the country, several weather systems were anticipated this festive weekend into early next week.
SAWS said this would likely result in cooler and wetter conditions over the eastern and central parts of South Africa, particularly on Monday and Tuesday (Christmas Day and Day of Goodwill).
“A weak cold front along the south coast of the country and a surface high-pressure system will cause cloudy and cooler conditions with light rain along the Western Cape south coast and the Eastern Cape coastline on Monday and Tuesday (25 and 26 December 2023),” SAWS said.
“Ahead of these systems, a low-pressure over Botswana and an upper-air system will cause scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers over the Free State, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo from Sunday onwards, when local heavy rainfall and cooler conditions are possible, particularly on Christmas and Day of Goodwill.”
SAWS added: “Although isolated severe thunderstorms may initially be possible over the central and south-eastern interior on Sunday and possibly into Monday, the atmosphere will eventually become tropical in nature allowing for locally heavier and widespread rainfall”.
SAWS said the current numerical weather models indicate 24-hour rainfall amounts in the order of 15-30 mm across large parts of the eastern provinces from Sunday, with heavier amounts possible over parts of the Highveld on Tuesday due to the influx of tropical moisture.
“The public is urged to regularly follow any updated weather forecasts and warnings that may be issued during this time,” said SAWS.
“While the eastern parts of the country will be cooler, the western interior will remain hot and dry, with strong winds in places, reaching near gale-force strength along the southwest coast of the Western Cape.
“These weather conditions will continue to favour the development and spread of veld fires and hamper current firefighting operations.
“Furthermore, the public is urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television, radio as well as social media platforms.”
Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at http://www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service X account @SAWeatherService
