Weather service issues storm surge and thunderstorm warnings across South Africa

Yellow level 2 alerts span coastal surges in Western and Eastern Cape and severe thunderstorms in the interior.

The South African Weather Service has issued multiple yellow level 2 warnings for severe weather expected across the country from Saturday through Monday, affecting both coastal and inland provinces.¹²³

In the yellow level 2 warning system, a high likelihood of minor impacts is forecast.⁴ Severe thunderstorms are expected over Gauteng, Limpopo, and parts of Mpumalanga on Sunday and Monday, with the weather service warning that the storms may cause localised flooding and damage to infrastructure, settlements, property, vehicles, and livestock due to heavy downpours and strong damaging winds.²³ A similar warning was issued for the extreme northeast of the Northern Cape and parts of the North West.⁴

Along the coast, the weather service has warned of storm surge, which is experienced as a rapid rise of sea level near the eyewall portion associated with onshore winds, sometimes reaching more than six metres and accompanied by very large wind-driven waves.¹ A yellow level 2 warning for storm surge affecting the area between Plettenberg Bay and Algoa Bay is in effect, with the service forecasting localised damage to coastal infrastructure including walkways, pipelines, property, and road and rail routes, as well as localised disruptions to beachfront activities and flooding of some coastal areas.³

Damaging wind and waves are expected to disrupt port and small harbour activities for a short period between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay from Saturday evening into Monday.¹ This warning was extended on Monday to cover the stretch between Alexander Bay and Algoa Bay, with conditions expected to continue until Thursday morning.³⁴

Cold, wet, and windy conditions are forecast for most parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape.¹ A yellow level 1 warning, indicating a low likelihood of minor impacts, was issued for storm surge between Storms River and Cannon Rocks in the Eastern Cape on Saturday morning.¹ Disruptive rainfall was forecast for Cape Town.⁴