Wednesday’s weather: Thunderstorms, heavy rain persist in most provinces
Wednesday’s weather: Thunderstorms, heavy rain persist in most provinces, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issuing urgent warnings for severe conditions today, 10 December 2025. Residents across the central and eastern parts of the country are advised to brace for a turbulent day as unstable weather patterns continue to dominate the summer forecast.
While some regions will experience fine and hot conditions, the primary focus remains on the thunderstorms, heavy rain, scattered showers, South African Weather Service alerts that cover key economic hubs, including Gauteng and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Severe Weather Alerts: Yellow Level 2 Warning
The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms. This alert is critical for residents in Gauteng, the eastern parts of the Free State and North West, the Highveld and escarpment areas of Mpumalanga, and the south-western parts of Limpopo.
According to the weather service, these storms are not just routine summer showers. They bring a high risk of:
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Heavy Downpours: Leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, informal settlements, and low-lying bridges.
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Excessive Lightning: A major danger for those outdoors or in open fields.
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Hail: Large amounts of small hail and potential large hail events are expected, posing risks to vehicles and property.
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Strong Damaging Winds: Capable of uprooting trees and damaging temporary structures.
Commuters in Johannesburg and Pretoria are urged to exercise extreme caution, especially during the afternoon rush hour when storm activity is expected to peak.
Provincial Weather Overview
The South African Weather Service provides a detailed breakdown of what to expect in your province today.
Gauteng
Wednesday’s weather: Thunderstorms, heavy rain persist in most provinces, and Gauteng is at the center of the action. The day will start partly cloudy and warm, but conditions will deteriorate in the afternoon. Scattered showers and thundershowers are forecast, with a 60% probability of rain.
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Johannesburg: Min 16°C | Max 28°C
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Pretoria: Min 17°C | Max 33°C
Mpumalanga
Expect cloudy conditions in the east with morning fog patches along the escarpment. The rest of the province will see partly cloudy and cool to warm weather. Scattered showers and thundershowers will develop from the afternoon, particularly over the Highveld.
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Mbombela: Min 18°C | Max 23°C
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Emalahleni: Min 15°C | Max 29°C
Limpopo
The morning will see fog patches along the escarpment. Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warm to hot. Thunderstorms, heavy rain are likely in the south-western parts later in the day, while the extreme north will see only isolated showers.
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Polokwane: Min 18°C | Max 29°C
North West
The province will be partly cloudy and warm to hot. Residents should prepare for scattered afternoon showers and thundershowers, although these will be more isolated in the extreme western regions.
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Rustenburg: Min 19°C | Max 31°C
Free State
Fine and warm to hot conditions will start the day, becoming partly cloudy later. Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over central parts, with scattered showers likely in the east where the severe weather warning applies.
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Bloemfontein: Min 14°C | Max 31°C
KwaZulu-Natal
The day begins with morning fog over the interior. It will be generally cloudy and cool, though warmer in the extreme north-east. Scattered showers and thundershowers are forecast for most of the province.
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Durban: Min 20°C | Max 26°C
Western and Northern Cape
In contrast to the east, the Northern Cape will be fine and hot, becoming very hot in the east. However, extreme fire danger warnings are in place for the Dikgatlong and Phokwane Local Municipalities. The Western Cape will be cloudy and cool along the south coast with light rain, but sunny and hot in the west.
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Cape Town: Min 16°C | Max 25°C
Safety Tips for Today’s Weather
With Wednesday’s weather: Thunderstorms, heavy rain persist in most provinces, safety should be your top priority.
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Road Safety: Increase following distance on wet roads. If you encounter a flooded low-lying bridge, do not attempt to cross it. Turn around and find an alternative route.
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Lightning Safety: If you are outdoors and hear thunder, seek shelter immediately. Avoid standing under trees or near tall metal objects.
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Hail Protection: If you have no garage, use thick blankets to cover your vehicle’s windscreen and bonnet to prevent hail damage.
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Home Maintenance: Ensure gutters are clear of debris to prevent overflow and water damage during heavy downpours.
Impact on Infrastructure and Services
The South African Weather Service has warned that the combination of heavy rain and strong winds could lead to disruptions in municipal services. Power outages are possible if lightning strikes substations or if power lines are damaged by falling branches.
Residents in informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to flooding. Local disaster management teams in affected municipalities are on high alert to respond to emergencies.
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Looking Ahead
While Wednesday’s weather: Thunderstorms, heavy rain persist in most provinces, the outlook for the rest of the week suggests a continuation of summer rainfall patterns. The public is advised to keep a close eye on daily updates from the South African Weather Service as alert levels can change rapidly.
Remember, weather conditions can be unpredictable. Stay tuned to eKayNews for the latest updates and real-time warnings as they become available.
References
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Snow News Provincial Weather Alerts & Forecast for SA Wednesday 10 December 2025 Link to article
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EWN (Eyewitness News) SAWS forecasts chance of thunderstorms and hail for Gauteng Link to article
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