Strong winds, rough seas and chilly conditions are expected in parts of the Western and Northern Cape.
Gallo Images/Foto24/Cornel van Heerden
A cold front bringing strong winds, rough seas and chilly conditions is forecast for parts of the Western and Northern Cape, while hot and humid conditions are expected in KwaZulu-Natal, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Impact-based warnings
Yellow Level 2 warning: Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours resulting in localised flooding of low-lying areas, roads and bridges are expected over the north-eastern parts of Northern Cape and Eastern Cape, as well as the central and western parts of Free State and North West. Expect large amounts of hail and destructive winds, leading to damage to settlements and infrastructure.
Weather forecast for today and tomorrow, 16-17 April 2026:
Partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers but widespread in the south-western parts of the country⚠️ Severe thunderstorms.#saws #SAWeather #Warning pic.twitter.com/JdmolEELc4— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) April 16, 2026
In the SAWS’ colour-coded weather warning system, yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact that requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that a higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation.
SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-related impacts. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low.
Advisories
Hot and humid weather will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions along the north coast and adjacent interior of KwaZulu-Natal.
Cold, wet and windy conditions are expected in places over the southern high-lying areas of the Namakwa district in the Northern Cape, as well as the Central Karoo and the western part of the Cape Winelands districts in the Western Cape until Monday.
The weather in your province
Gauteng: Cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Pretoria: 15°C — 25°C
Johannesburg: 14°C — 25°C
Vereeniging: 14°C — 24°C
Mpumalanga: Partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered showers are expected over the Highveld, where it will be cloudy.
Mbombela: 17°C — 27°C
Limpopo: Partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, except in the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley. Scattered showers expected in the extreme south-west.
Polokwane: 15°C — 26°C
North West: Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers.
Mahikeng: 15°C — 24°C
Vryburg: 15°C — 25°C
Free State: Cloudy and cool to warm with scattered showers and thundershowers, but isolated in the extreme east.
Bloemfontein: 13°C — 22°C
Northern Cape: Cold in the extreme west, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers, except in the north-western interior. Cloudy in the extreme east.
Coastal winds: Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly, becoming light and variable in the evening.
Kimberley: 14°C — 24°C
Upington: 15°C — 25°C
Western Cape: Partly cloudy and cool to cold with isolated showers and thundershowers. Scattered to widespread showers are expected over the western parts, where it will be cloudy.
Coastal winds: Moderate to fresh north-westerly to westerly, becoming strong along the south-west coast in the afternoon and spreading to the south coast by evening.
Cape Town: 13°C — 16°C
George: 13°C — 21°C
Western half of the Eastern Cape: Partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated thundershowers. Scattered showers expected along the south coast and adjacent interior. Coastal winds: Moderate to fresh south-westerly.
Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Partly cloudy and warm with isolated thundershowers. Scattered showers are expected in the north.
Coastal winds: Fresh to strong north-easterly, becoming moderate south-westerly in the south from evening.
Gqeberha: 17°C — 23°C
East London: 19°C — 28°C
KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog in places over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers. Hot in places in the north-east.
Coastal winds: Light northerly to north-westerly, becoming fresh to strong north-easterly from mid-morning.
Durban: 22°C — 30°C
Richards Bay: 20°C — 33°C
Pietermaritzburg: 16°C — 28°C
The SAWS did not provide all temperatures at the time of publishing. These will be updated once available.
*This weather report was written with the support of Toqan AI.
