Hot and humid conditions are expected in parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP
Hot and humid conditions are expected in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, while severe thunderstorms with heavy rain are forecast in five other provinces, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Impact-based warnings
Yellow Level 2 warning: Severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail, resulting in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements, are expected over the extreme eastern parts of both the Free State and North West, southern parts of Gauteng, the Highveld and escarpment areas of Mpumalanga (except for the extreme north), as well as the western and central parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Weather forecast for today & tomorrow, 08 – 09 January 2026.
Partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions are expected over the central & eastern parts of the country, with isolated showers & thundershowers anticipated from the afternoon. Otherwise, fine & hot to very hot.#saws pic.twitter.com/56O1oJZdFT— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) January 8, 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-based impacts occurring. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low.
Advisories
Hot and humid weather, resulting in extremely uncomfortable conditions, is expected over the extreme northeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in places over Sarah Baartman, Amathole, Chris Hani, OR Tambo, and Alfred Nzo district municipalities in the Eastern Cape.
The weather in your province
Gauteng: Partly cloudy and warm conditions are expected, with scattered afternoon showers and thundershowers. Be prepared for possible disruptions due to the rain.
Pretoria: 19°C — 30°C
Johannesburg: 17°C — 29°C
Vereeniging: 17°C — 31°C
Mpumalanga: The province will experience partly cloudy and warm to hot weather.
Scattered showers and thundershowers are expected, but these will be isolated in the Lowveld.
Mbombela: 18°C — 30°C
Ermelo: 14°C — 30°C
Emalahleni: 16°C — 28°C
Standerton: 16°C — 29°C
Skukuza: 20°C — 32°C
Limpopo: Partly cloudy and warm to hot conditions will prevail.
Isolated showers and thundershowers are expected, with scattered activity in the south-west and extreme north-east.
Polokwane: 18°C — 30°C
Phalaborwa: 22°C — 32°C
Tzaneen: 18°C — 30°C
Musina: 20°C — 34°C
Lephalale: 22°C — 34°C
Mokopane: 21°C — 31°C
North West: Fine and hot weather will dominate, becoming partly cloudy later.
Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the east and extreme north, with scattered activity in the extreme east.
Klerksdorp: 19°C — 34°C
Potchefstroom: 18°C — 32°C
Mahikeng: 20°C — 33°C
Rustenburg: 19°C — 34°C
Vryburg: 20°C — 34°C
Free State: Fine and hot conditions will transition to partly cloudy skies.
Isolated to scattered afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the east. The south will become windy by evening, so secure loose outdoor items.
Bloemfontein: 18°C — 35°C
Welkom: 20°C — 35°C
Bethlehem: 14°C — 32°C
Northern Cape: Fine and hot weather is expected, with very hot conditions in the central and eastern parts. Partly cloudy skies are expected to develop in the east from the afternoon.
Coastal winds will shift from moderate southerly to south-easterly, becoming fresh south-westerly later in the day.
Upington: 19°C — 37°C
Kimberley: 21°C — 36°C
De Aar: 19°C — 34°C
Alexander Bay: 17°C — 27°C
Springbok: 18°C — 33°C
Calvinia: 12°C — 34°C
Sutherland: 08°C — 29°C
Western Cape: Partly cloudy skies are expected over the southern parts, with light morning rain in the south-east. Otherwise, the province will be fine and warm to hot, with very hot conditions in the north-west.
Coastal winds will vary, becoming fresh to strong along the west coast in the afternoon.
Cape Town: 18°C — 27°C
Vredendal: 15°C — 33°C
Riversdale: 16°C — 29°C
George: 15°C — 25°C
Worcester: 15°C — 30°C
Beaufort West: 16°C — 32°C
Oudtshoorn: 16°C — 29°C
Western parts of the Eastern Cape: Partly cloudy and warm conditions will dominate, becoming cloudy in the south by evening.
Coastal winds will shift from moderate south-westerly to south-easterly in the afternoon, and easterly by evening.
Eastern parts of the Eastern Cape: Cloudy conditions are expected south of the escarpment, with partly cloudy and warm weather elsewhere.
Isolated afternoon thundershowers are likely in the north-east, while isolated showers and rain are expected south of the escarpment in the evening. Coastal winds will transition from moderate south-westerly to south-easterly in the afternoon.
Gqeberha: 16°C — 26°C
Makhanda: 13°C — 26°C
Cradock: 13°C — 32°C
Graaff-Reinet: 12°C — 32°C
East London: 18°C — 26°C
Port St Johns: 20°C — 28°C
Mthatha: 13°C — 26°C
Komani: 12°C — 30°C
Qonce: 13°C — 28°C
KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog will affect parts of the extreme northern and south-western interior. Otherwise, the province will be partly cloudy and warm, with scattered showers and thundershowers expected. These will be isolated in the north-east. Conditions will become cloudy in the evening.
Coastal winds will vary, becoming moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly, spreading to Kosi Bay by evening.
Durban: 22°C — 27°C
Richard’s Bay: 23°C — 28°C
Pietermaritzburg: 18°C — 26°C
Ladysmith: 18°C — 32°C
*This weather report was written with the support of Toqan AI.
