On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, parts of South Africa will face significant weather challenges, with severe thunderstorms, potential hail, and heatwave conditions affecting KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and North West provinces. A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms across much of KwaZulu-Natal, while a heatwave advisory continues for the north-western region until Thursday.
In KwaZulu-Natal, residents can expect morning fog in the far western interior, followed by warm to hot conditions and partly cloudy skies. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are anticipated in the south-west, with isolated showers in other areas except for the north-east. Coastal winds will change from southerly to south-westerly to north-easterly throughout the day, and the UVB sunburn index is predicted to be high.
Durban will experience partly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Light winds are expected to shift towards the north-east by late morning, with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 27°C, accompanied by a high UVB sunburn risk.
The Free State province is forecast to have partly cloudy, windy, and warm to hot conditions, with isolated showers and thunderstorms likely. The extreme north-west may see scattered storms. In Bloemfontein, partly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected.
In the North West province, partly cloudy and warm to hot weather is anticipated, along with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Scattered storms could develop in the extreme west. Mahikeng will see partly cloudy conditions with isolated showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures between 17°C and 31°C.
Residents in these regions should stay informed about local weather updates and take necessary precautions during thunderstorms. Additionally, protective measures against strong sunshine and high temperatures are advised.