Weekend weather: Heavy downpours and damaging winds threaten several provinces

Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds are set to hit several parts of South Africa this weekend, with an 80% chance of rain in some areas.

South Africans in several provinces are being warned to brace for a stormy start to the weekend, with heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail and excessive lightning expected across large parts of the country on Saturday.

The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms on Saturday, covering the Northern Cape, northern parts of the Western Cape, western Free State, extreme western North West and the extreme south of KwaZulu-Natal.

The warning is valid from 9am until 10.59pm on Saturday, with forecasters warning that the storms could cause localised flooding of roads, low-lying areas and bridges, as well as damage to informal settlements, infrastructure, vehicles, livestock and property.

Saturday's rainfall outlook shows some of the highest chances of rain stretching across the country's western, central and southern regions.

Rainfall chances climb to 80% across parts of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and southern Free State, while a 60% chance is forecast across other parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape and central interior.

The Free State can expect isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms from the east into central areas, becoming widespread in the south.

The Northern Cape is forecast to be cloudy, windy and warm, with scattered showers and thunderstorms becoming widespread in the west and south.

In the Western Cape, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected over the West Coast and Central Karoo, with scattered storms elsewhere in the province.

The western half of the Eastern Cape faces widespread showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by cool and windy conditions. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast over the eastern half of the province, becoming widespread in western areas.

KwaZulu-Natal will see morning fog over the interior before partly cloudy conditions, with scattered showers and thunderstorms expected in the extreme south. Isolated storms are possible elsewhere, except in the north-east.

The severe thunderstorm warning is expected to affect the extreme south of the province during the evening, bringing the threat of heavy rain, hail, strong winds and lightning.

North West will be partly cloudy, windy and warm, with isolated thunderstorms and a greater concentration of storms in the west.

Gauteng is expected to escape the worst of Saturday's weather, although isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast in the south-west. The province will otherwise be partly cloudy and warm, with a very high UVB sunburn index.

Mpumalanga has a 30% chance of rain in some areas, with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms expected along the escarpment. Limpopo is forecast to remain mostly fine and warm to hot after early cloud and patches of morning fog.

Despite the widespread rain threat, extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over western parts of North West and the extreme north-eastern Northern Cape.

The combination of strong winds and dry conditions in these areas could increase the risk of rapidly spreading fires.

The unsettled weather is expected to persist into Sunday, 27 September, with cooler and colder conditions spreading across much of the country.

The Weather Service's Sunday outlook indicates a 60% chance of rain over parts of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal, while a 30% chance is expected across parts of the Western Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Cold conditions are expected across parts of the Eastern Cape and southern interior, while much of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal will experience cool conditions.

Limpopo and parts of Mpumalanga are expected to remain considerably warmer, with hot conditions forecast in northern areas.

Strong winds are also expected in several coastal and inland areas on Sunday, adding to what is shaping up to be a wet, windy and significantly cooler end to the weekend for much of South Africa.