SA Weather: Fine, warm Wednesday before cut-off low hits

While most of South Africa stays fine and warm, there is a 30% chance of rain across parts of the Eastern Cape, southern Free State, eastern Northern Cape and southwestern KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa can expect another largely settled spring Wednesday, with fine and warm conditions dominating most of the country. Sunshine will be widespread across the northern and central provinces, while only a few isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over parts of the south and southeast.

A 30% chance of showers and thundershowers is forecast for the southern Free State, the eastern interior of the Northern Cape, much of the Eastern Cape, and the southwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Elsewhere, dry weather will prevail.

Gauteng will enjoy fine and warm conditions throughout the day, while Mpumalanga and Limpopo will remain warm to hot, especially across the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley. The North West Province will be fine and warm, becoming partly cloudy in the west later in the day.

The Free State will start off fine, before clouds increase during the afternoon, bringing isolated showers to southern areas. The Northern Cape will see early morning mist in places before turning partly cloudy, windy and warm, with isolated afternoon showers developing in the east.

The Western Cape will experience partly cloudy conditions along the southern coastline with patches of morning mist, while the rest of the province remains partly cloudy to fine, and cool to warm. Conditions will remain dry despite increasing cloud in some areas.

Across both the western and eastern parts of the Eastern Cape, morning fog is expected in southern districts before the skies become partly cloudy, with isolated showers and thundershowers developing later in the day.

KwaZulu-Natal will be fine to partly cloudy and warm to hot, becoming very hot in the far northeast. A few isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the southwestern interior during the afternoon.

Looking ahead, a powerful cut-off low is expected to bring significantly colder, wetter and windier weather to parts of the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape on Thursday and Friday.

Disruptive rainfall, damaging winds and rough coastal conditions are forecast, with residents in affected areas encouraged to stay informed as the system approaches.