Orange Level 5 storm warning issued as severe weather sweeps across SA

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 5 warning for severe thunderstorms in parts of the Northern Cape on Friday, with flooding, damaging winds, hail and excessive lightning expected as a cut-off low moves across the country.

The highest-level warning applies to parts of the east-central Northern Cape, including the Dikgatlong, Kgatelopele, Siyancuma, Siyathemba and Thembelihle municipalities. SAWS has warned that heavy downpours could flood roads, settlements and low-lying areas, while damaging winds and hail could affect homes, infrastructure, vehicles and agricultural operations.

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A separate Yellow Level 4 severe-thunderstorm warning is in place across a wider area of the Northern Cape and parts of the Free State and North West, where localised flooding, wind and hail damage, falling trees and disruption to municipal services due to excessive lightning are possible.

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