Residents of several parts of South Africa may expect a change in weather this week: a drop in temperature, precipitation, and thunderstorms are forecast for the central and eastern regions starting Monday.
The most noticeable changes are expected in Gauteng, where temperatures will drop sharply on Tuesday due to the movement of unstable weather across the province. According to the latest forecasts, Johannesburg may reach around 27°C on Monday with expectations of brief rain and thunderstorms, while Pretoria is expected to be around 29°C.
On Tuesday, the weather in Gauteng is expected to become significantly cooler: Johannesburg is forecast to have only about 21°C, and Pretoria about 25°C. Rain and thunderstorms are again predicted throughout Gauteng during the day. Cooler conditions will persist into Wednesday, when the maximum temperature in Johannesburg may reach around 20°C.
Rain and cooling in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is also expected to have unstable weather, especially along the coast. In Durban on Monday, a temperature of around 19°C with light rain is forecast, and it may get even cooler on Tuesday, reaching approximately 18°C, with the probability of precipitation remaining.
It will be warmer in the inland areas: Pietermaritzburg is forecast to be around 22°C on Monday, and Newcastle up to 29°C. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is monitoring the weather conditions in the province; warnings for destructive waves along part of the KwaZulu-Natal coast and strong thunderstorms in some areas are currently in effect.
Warmth and clear skies in the Western Cape
The Western Cape promises a completely different weather pattern. On Monday, Cape Town is expected to be around 22°C with clear skies, and by Tuesday, the temperature will rise to approximately 26°C. The city is expected to remain dry and clear on Tuesday, meaning that the cooler and wetter conditions affecting Gauteng and parts of KwaZulu-Natal will not be observed in the Western Cape.
Forecast for the rest of South Africa
Several other provinces will also face variable weather. Free State is forecast to have rain and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, with Bloemfontein expected to be around 25°C on Monday and 22°C on Tuesday.
Limpopo is expected to have rain and thunderstorms, and the temperature in Polokwane will drop from approximately 27°C on Monday to 22°C on Tuesday. Mpumalanga may see rain on both days, while the North West region expects rain and thunderstorms, especially as temperatures fall on Tuesday.
The Northern Cape should be relatively dry on Monday, although rain and thunderstorms are forecast in some parts of the province on Tuesday. In the Eastern Cape, Gqeberha will remain cool, with rain on Monday and a maximum temperature of only around 17°C; conditions should clear up by Tuesday.
Latest provincial forecasts indicate that while spring temperatures remain warm in some areas, the week will begin with a noticeable shift towards cooler and more unstable conditions in different parts of the country.