The South African Weather Service forecasts that on Thursday, September 24, 2026, isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected in various parts of the country. Residents of South Africa may expect mixed weather on Heritage Day, with extremely high fire danger predicted in some areas of Limpopo, while scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated in several provinces.
Although the South African Weather Service has not issued severe weather warnings based on impact, it has warned of extremely high fire danger in the municipalities of Musina and Tzaneen in Limpopo. Precipitation is expected to remain localized, with a rain probability of about 30% in the affected areas.
Thunderstorm forecast for Eastern South Africa
Limpopo is expected to have variable cloudiness and warm or hot weather, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms over the southern and central regions in the afternoon. However, the fire warning will be in effect in Musina and Tzaneen, where conditions are considered particularly favorable for fires.
In Mpumalanga province, the day will begin with patches of morning fog in the southern areas, after which the weather will become partly cloudy and cool, although Lowveld is forecast to be warmer. A 30% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms is expected.
KwaZulu-Natal will also see morning fog over inland areas before partly cloudy and warm weather gives way to increased cloud cover in the afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected with a 30% chance of rain.
The eastern half of the Eastern Cape will be cloudy with morning fog in places, then become partly cloudy and cool or warm. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast, giving affected areas a 30% chance of precipitation.
Gauteng remains dry and warm
Gauteng is expected to remain dry, with a forecast of partly cloudy and warm weather for Thursday. The UVB sunstroke index will be high.
North West will also remain dry, with clear and warm weather expected throughout the day. Free State is expected to have partly cloudy and warm weather, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the south and along the Lesotho border.
Isolated storms reach Northern and Western Cape
In the Northern Cape, the western and southern areas will be cloudy, with isolated showers and thunderstorms bringing a 30% chance of rain. In other areas, the weather will be clear and cool or warm, becoming hot in the northern regions.
The Western Cape will experience cloudy conditions and morning fog in the western and southern areas before becoming partly cloudy and cool or warm. Hot weather is expected along the West Coast, while the northeasternmost parts of the province have a 30% chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms.
The UVB sunstroke index in the Western Cape is expected to be very high. In the western part of the Eastern Cape along the coast and the adjacent inland eastern part east of Cape St Francis, cloudy conditions, fog, and light morning rain are expected. Otherwise, the weather will be clear and warm, although temperatures along the coast will remain cooler.
Overall, the precipitation forecast indicates that isolated thunderstorms will spread across the eastern and southern parts of the country, while large areas of the central and northwestern interior are expected to remain dry on Thursday.