South African Weather Service Issues Yellow Level 2 Alert for Severe Thunderstorms and Localized Flooding Across Seven Provinces

SAWS issues Yellow Level 2 warning for Gauteng, KZN, and five other provinces. Severe thunderstorms, flooding, and damaging winds expected across South Africa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 6:03 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from South African Weather Service

A Wide-Ranging Alert for Severe Convection

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has placed a significant portion of the country under a Yellow Level 2 warning as a volatile weather system moves across the central and eastern provinces. Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela confirmed that the current atmospheric conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing minor but impactful environmental damage. The alert specifically covers the southern and eastern sectors of Gauteng, the Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal, while extending into the eastern reaches of the North West and the Mpumalanga escarpment.

Primary Hazards: Flooding, Wind, and Lightning

The meteorological department has identified four primary risks associated with this Level 2 warning:

Heavy Downpours: Rapid accumulation of water is expected to cause localized flooding.

Damaging Winds: Strong gusts may impact temporary structures and lead to fallen trees or power lines.