The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rain expected across five provinces on Thursday (19 December). The provinces affected include Gauteng, central and western Limpopo, the escarpment and highveld of Mpumalanga, eastern Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal (except for its extreme southern and eastern regions). This disruptive rain is expected to lead to flooding, road blockages, damage to infrastructure, and possible displacement of affected communities.
SAWS has warned that the rainfall could accumulate between 70mm to 150mm in parts of the affected provinces, increasing the likelihood of flooding. Areas like Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Free State, eastern North West, and parts of Limpopo are likely to experience substantial rainfall. This heavy rain is expected to disrupt normal life, especially in urban and rural settlements where flooding could cause significant damage.
Along with the rain, cloud cover is expected to lower temperatures in the eastern regions of the country, providing some relief from the recent extreme heat. The weather service has forecasted isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in central and eastern areas of South Africa, while KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga are expected to experience widespread rainfall. This cooling effect may bring some respite from uncomfortable weather conditions but also increases the flood risk.
The public is strongly advised to stay informed by following short-term weather forecasts and any updates from the SAWS. People in the affected regions should be prepared for possible disruptions and take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their property. The weather service emphasizes the importance of heeding weather warnings to minimize the impact of severe weather events.
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