The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several weather alerts for April 21 and 22, 2026. These warnings include damaging winds and waves along the coast and severe thunderstorms affecting four provinces.
Coastal Alerts: Damaging Winds and Waves
A Yellow Level 2 warning is currently in effect for the coastline stretching between Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. This system may lead to difficulty in navigation at sea.
Authorities warn that port and small harbour activities could be disrupted for a short period due to the damaging winds and waves. Residents and maritime operators are advised to exercise caution in these areas.
Inland Alerts: Severe Thunderstorms
Severe weather is persisting across four provinces, with a Yellow Level 4 warning issued for the extreme north-eastern part of Mpumalanga as well as the central and eastern parts of Limpopo. These areas may experience hail, excessive lightning, and strong, damaging winds.
Heavy downpours in these regions could result in flooding, potentially damaging infrastructure and both formal and informal settlements. This represents a moderate risk requiring caution and awareness.
a Yellow Level 2 warning is active for Gauteng, the eastern parts of the North West, most of Mpumalanga, and the central and western parts of Limpopo. These areas could see localised damage to infrastructure and flooding of bridges, low-lying areas, and susceptible roads.
Provincial Forecasts
Gauteng: Conditions are expected to be cloudy and cool to warm. Scattered showers and thundershowers are predicted, becoming widespread in the extreme north.
Limpopo: Widespread showers and thundershowers are expected, with morning fog patches appearing over the central and western regions. Temperatures will range from cool to warm.
Mpumalanga: The Lowveld may be warm, while other areas remain cloudy and cool. Widespread showers and thundershowers are forecast, though they will be scattered in the south-west.
North West: The province will be cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers, which may be more scattered in the east. Morning fog is also expected.
Free State: Expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with cool to warm temperatures. Isolated showers and thundershowers are likely, except in the south and south-west, where it will be fine.
Northern Cape: The region will be generally fine and cool to warm, though the extreme south may be cold and partly cloudy at first. Fresh to strong south-easterly winds will affect the coast.
Western Cape: The west will be fine and cool, while the south coast and adjacent interior may see light rain and showers by early morning. Winds will shift from south-westerly in the morning to south-easterly in the afternoon along the south coast.
Eastern Cape: The western half will be fine and cool, with isolated showers along the south coast. The eastern half will start fine and cool before becoming cloudy with isolated showers and rain along the coast and adjacent interior.
KwaZulu-Natal: Expect morning fog over the Midlands. The coast and adjacent interior will see widespread showers and thundershowers, with winds reaching strong at times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a ‘Yellow’ warning signify in the SAWS system?
A yellow warning indicates a moderate risk of impact, which requires caution and awareness from the public.
Which areas are specifically warned about damaging waves?
The warning for damaging winds and waves applies to the area between Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape.
What are the potential risks associated with the Yellow Level 4 warning?
The Yellow Level 4 warning for parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga includes risks of strong damaging winds, hail, excessive lightning, and heavy downpours that could lead to flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements.
How are you preparing for the current weather conditions in your province?
