Thunderstorms, hail and cold front likely for Easter long weekend

The SA Weather Service (SAWS) says the sunny and warm-to-hot weather now dominating the southern African subcontinent is set to change dramatically in the days ahead.

A cold front is expected to arrive over the Western Cape at the start of the weekend, introducing cold, windy and showery conditions which will gradually spread eastward and northwards during the long weekend.

SAWS said the weekend will also see more thunderstorms in North West, the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, especially on Sunday and Monday.

“Localised, heavier falls, accompanied by hail in places, may lead to disruptive weather-related incidents such as urban and river flooding. On Monday, cooler, gusty conditions will eventually spread to include KZN, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, accompanied by heavier thunderstorms, which may become severe, especially over northern KZN and the Mpumalanga highveld,” said SAWS

The weather service said these thunderstorms will also spread to include the southern half of Limpopo on Monday.

“Southern Africa is basking in a spell of autumn warmth and sunshine, with hot to very hot conditions over parts of the Northern Cape, Limpopo and neighbouring Botswana. These conditions will persist during the first half of the weekend,” said SAWS.