Residents in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and North West provinces should prepare for unsettled weather conditions on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms across much of KwaZulu-Natal, accompanied by a heatwave advisory for the north-western region, which will remain in effect until Thursday.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the day will begin with morning fog over the far western interior. This will give way to partly cloudy skies with warm to hot temperatures. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated in the south-west, while isolated showers are expected elsewhere, excluding the north-east. Coastal winds will undergo several shifts throughout the day, moving from southerly to south-westerly, eventually turning north-easterly. The UVB sunburn index is projected to be high, suggesting a significant risk of sunburn.
In Durban, partly cloudy skies will prevail with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected. Light winds will shift towards the north-east starting from late morning, with temperatures forecasted to range from 21°C to 27°C. Residents should be cautious of the high UVB sunburn risk during the day.
The Free State is likely to experience partly cloudy, windy, and warm to hot conditions, with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Scattered storms might occur in the extreme north-west of the province. In Bloemfontein, partly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected, although specific temperature forecasts were not provided in the source report.
North West province will see partly cloudy weather with warm to hot temperatures, alongside isolated showers and thunderstorms. Scattered thunderstorms could occur in the extreme west. Mahikeng is forecast to have partly cloudy conditions with isolated showers and thunderstorms, and temperatures ranging between 17°C and 31°C.
Residents in these regions are advised to stay informed about the local weather updates, take necessary precautions during thunderstorms, and protect themselves from the strong sunshine and high temperatures anticipated during this period.