The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department (EMS) is appealing to communities to remain alert for possible thunderstorms.
The appeal follows a Yellow Level 2 warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) for severe thunderstorms over some parts of the country, including the City of Tshwane.
The SAWS said these storms are expected to be severe over Gauteng, Western Bushveld of Limpopo as well as the Highveld of Mpumalanga.
The City EMS spokesperson Deputy Chief Charles Mabaso urged communities to exercise caution and warned them about the impact of severe thunderstorms.
“Localised flooding of susceptible low-lying areas, informal settlements, and susceptible roads
“Minor to major vehicle accidents due to poor driving visibility and slippery road conditions.
“Localised service disruptions due to power failures, localised damage due to large amounts of small hail,” warned Mabaso.
Mabaso also urged communities to observe safety measures that include amongst others, staying indoors and away from metal objects, not to seek shelter under trees or tall objects, and avoid crossing flooded low-lying roads, bridges, and swollen streams.
According to the SAWS, cold temperatures, widespread rainfall, and possible flooding will persist into early this week.
“Following recent prolonged heatwaves and below-average rainfall over much of South Africa’s interior, cooler and unsettled weather conditions are expected across many regions over the coming days.
“An intense low-pressure system, known as a cut-off low, is forecasted to bring widespread showers and thundershowers to many parts of the country this weekend into early next week (6 to 9 April).
“Cut-off lows are large weather systems notorious for causing widespread flooding, as evidenced by events such as the well-known KwaZulu-Natal flooding in 2022 and the Laingsburg flooding in 1981,” read a statement from the SAWS.
The statement added that the weather systems can also “bring damaging winds, severe thunderstorms, and even snow, depending on the season in which they develop.”