Motorists planning to hit South Africa’s roads this weekend are being urged to take extra care as severe weather moves across parts of the country.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has escalated its warning to Orange Level 5 for severe thunderstorms in the east-central parts of the Northern Cape, with heavy rainfall, flooding, damaging winds, hail and lightning expected.
The warning comes as a cut-off low-pressure system moves across the country, bringing unsettled weather to several provinces.
For people travelling this weekend, the biggest concern is the potential impact on roads.
SAWS warned that heavy thunderstorms could flood roads and bridges, while strong winds and hail could cause damage and leave debris on roads. Falling trees and excessive lightning are also possible in affected areas.
A broader Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms is in place across parts of the Northern Cape, Free State, Northwest and southern KwaZulu-Natal.
The Northern Cape is expected to see some of the most intense conditions, with rainfall probabilities of between 60% and 80% in the worst-affected areas.
The weather is not limited to the Northern Cape. Parts of the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northwest, Gauteng and Mpumalanga are also expected to experience varying degrees of disruptive weather as the system moves eastwards.
Gauteng is expected to start Friday partly cloudy before becoming increasingly cloudy, with scattered showers and thundershowers possible. Southern parts of the province are among the areas where severe thunderstorms are possible.
In Mpumalanga, showers and thundershowers are expected to increase over the south-western parts of the province.
KwaZulu-Natal is also facing wet and windy conditions, while damaging winds have prompted additional warnings in parts of the province.
For motorists, strong winds are a particular concern. High-sided vehicles such as trucks, buses and vans can be more vulnerable to crosswinds, while flying debris can create an additional hazard on the road.
For anyone driving this weekend, the warning is about more than simply getting caught in a rain shower.
Heavy downpours can reduce visibility within minutes and leave standing water across roads. Roads and low-lying bridges can also become flooded, particularly when rainfall is intense over a short period.
Motorists should avoid driving through flooded roads, even if the water does not initially appear to be very deep. Fast-moving or rising water can be difficult to judge from inside a vehicle.
Drivers should also slow down when roads become wet, leave more space between vehicles and avoid sudden braking or steering.
The same applies to mountain passes and other high-lying routes, where rapidly changing weather can bring cold temperatures and reduced visibility.
Earlier warnings from SAWS also highlighted the possibility of snow in high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and Lesotho, with motorists travelling through mountain passes advised to remain alert for deteriorating conditions.
With many South Africans travelling over the weekend, checking the latest weather warning before setting off could make the difference between a difficult journey and a safe one.
Conditions are expected to change as the weather system moves across the country, meaning a route that is clear when a driver leaves may face thunderstorms, heavy rain or strong winds later in the journey.
Motorists are therefore advised to keep an eye on the latest SAWS updates, particularly if travelling through areas covered by severe weather warnings.
For drivers, the safest approach this weekend is a simple one: slow down, allow extra travel time and do not take flooded roads or severe thunderstorms lightly.
