South Africa is preparing for mixed winter weekend weather: most of the country will be predominantly dry and stable, but the southern and southeastern regions will face cooler weather, strong winds, and possible precipitation.
On Saturday, Gauteng is expected to have mostly clear and warm weather with a high UV index. Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces will also be clear and warm, although morning fog is forecast for the east, and temperatures in Lowveld may rise to high levels. The North West province will be clear and warm, but wind is expected in the far southwest.
In Free State, the weather will be clear but windy, with temperatures ranging from cool to warm. The Northern Cape will see partial cloudiness in the southwest in the morning, where it will be cold. In the rest of the province, the weather will be clear and cool to warm, with strong winds expected in the far east.
The Western Cape feels distinctly like a winter region: cloudiness and morning fog are expected in the southern areas. The rest of the province will be partly cloudy and cool to moderate. Chances of rain remain limited, with a 30% probability of isolated showers around the southwest Cape on Saturday, especially towards the evening.
The Eastern Cape will be one of the least stable regions. The western half will be cloudy with morning fog in places and partly cloudy with cool weather, although it will be warmer in the northeast. At night along the coast west of Gqeberha, there is a 30% chance of light rain. The eastern half will be partly cloudy and cool to warm, with morning fog south of the escarpment and windy conditions in places.
Strong winds will be a main feature of the Eastern Cape coast, where squally gusts are possible. A Level 2 yellow warning for destructive winds has been issued for parts of the province, including Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela Bay, and several coastal municipalities. Another Level 2 yellow warning covers destructive winds and waves from Plettenberg Bay to Port Alfred from mid-morning, extending to Coes Bay in the evening.
KwaZulu-Natal will enjoy clear and warm to hot weather before cloudiness increases in the east during the day. Coastal winds will strengthen from the southwest during the day and spread northward. The UV index will be very high.
On Sunday, dry weather is expected to persist inland, with predominantly clear and warm conditions in the northern and central parts of the country. Temperatures will be warm or hot in some areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, while cooler air will remain closer to the southern coast. Fog and coastal clouds will continue to be observed in the southern and eastern areas in the morning.
The Western Cape will remain partly cloudy or cloudy at times and cool to moderate, with the next chance of light rain over the southwestern areas. Windy conditions will persist along the Eastern Cape coast, and strong southwesterly winds and rough seas will make coastal activities and navigation dangerous in affected areas.
