The South African Weather Service has issued high-level warnings for parts of the country, with the Northern Cape, North West and Free State bracing for a cold and wet weekend.
An Orange Level 6 and Level 4 warning have been issued for the affected regions, where heavy rainfall and strong, potentially damaging winds are expected. Authorities have cautioned that the conditions could lead to localised flooding.
Weather Service spokesperson Tokelo Chiloane said residents in inland areas should remain on high alert, particularly following recent rainfall experienced over the past week.
“Some areas are expected to receive up to 90 millimetres of rain within 24 hours. This is a significant amount of rainfall, and we urge the public to take the necessary precautions,” Chiloane said.
Very cold temperatures are also forecast, with the North West and Northern Cape likely to be among the hardest hit by the severe conditions.
Despite the sudden drop in temperatures, the Weather Service noted that the country is still officially in autumn, although the weather may feel more typical of winter.