The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 weather warning for seven districts in KwaZulu-Natal, cautioning residents about severe thunderstorms expected to bring heavy rainfall, hail, excessive lightning and damaging winds.
The affected districts are Amajuba, Zululand, uMkhanyakude, uThukela, uMzinyathi, uMgungundlovu and Harry Gwala.
SAWS says widespread showers and thundershowers are expected over the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Highveld, with severe thunderstorms likely to develop.
Weather forecaster Maseto Nhlapo says a further Yellow Level 2 warning is expected over the southern, north-eastern coastal corridor and northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
She warns that the conditions could result in localised flooding and damage to settlements and infrastructure.
The weather service has also cautioned about the possibility of damaging winds and lightning.
Meanwhile, scattered showers and thundershowers are expected across several other parts of the country, including Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, the Free State and the Eastern Cape.
Temperatures are expected to remain warm to hot across much of the country, with particularly hot conditions forecast for Limpopo and North West.
SAWS says weather conditions are expected to start improving from Tuesday, although isolated showers and thunderstorms could persist into Wednesday.