SAWS: Wet, cold weather in store for weekend

The predicted downpours come amid weeks of prolonged heatwaves in several parts of the country.

Forecaster Dipuo Tawana said the widespread heavy rain will persist over the country into early next week.

"At the moment we have not yet issued any alert for the Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. However, we are looking at a wet weekend with 60 to 80 percent chance of showers and thundershowers expected."

Tawana added that an intense cut-off low is expected to develop along the west coast of the country from Saturday afternoon.

"Widespread showers and thundershowers are expected to develop over much of the country during Saturday and will continue until at least Tuesday whereafter calm and clear weather conditions will return to many areas.

"Persistent showers and thundershowers may lead to flooding over the central and eastern parts of the country, particularly from Sunday into Monday, while severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and large amounts of small hail are possible over the western interior on Sunday into Monday.

"There remains uncertainty among Numeric Weather Prediction models regarding the intensity and future movement of the system. This uncertainty could lead to changes in rainfall amounts and distribution and the South African Weather Service will therefore provide regular updates to the public and disaster management on expected weather conditions." 

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