Pretoria: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecasted severe thunderstorms for Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, warning of potential disruptions and hazards associated with the weather conditions.

According to South African Government News Agency, Wednesday’s forecast predicts partly cloudy conditions ranging from cool to warm, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. A ridging high pressure system is expected to cause thundershowers that could become severe, leading to very heavy rain and frequent lightning within a short period.

The anticipated weather conditions are expected to lead to flooding of low-lying roads and bridges, damage to homes and infrastructure, and serious travel delays. The impact may extend to damaging infrastructure, informal settlements, property, vehicles, and affecting livelihoods and livestock.

Disruption to municipal and essential services, including education, health, communication, and power supply, is also anticipated. Flooding is expected in susceptible roads, low-lying areas, and bridges, increasing the risk of vehicle accidents and causing service disruptions due to power surges.

The weather outlook for Thursday and Friday indicates cloudy conditions in the east, with partly cloudy and warm to cool conditions elsewhere, accompanied by scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers in the central and eastern regions of the country. The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and issue severe weather warnings as necessary.