KwaZulu-Natal communities have been placed on high alert following the South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) issuance of a Yellow Level 4 Warning for Severe Thunderstorms on Monday, 22 December 2025, as an increasingly volatile weather system tightens its grip on large parts of the province ahead of the festive season.
According to SAWS, a surface trough over western KwaZulu-Natal, combined with persistent high-pressure ridging along the eastern seaboard, is expected to sustain widespread showers and thundershowers.
Crucially, several of these storms are forecast to intensify into severe weather, bringing heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail. Collectively, these conditions pose a credible threat to infrastructure, mobility and public safety.
As a result, SAWS has warned of widespread impacts, including flooding of roads and bridges, as well as inundation of both formal and informal settlements.
Infrastructure damage caused by hail remains a concern, while frequent lightning strikes significantly elevate the risk of fire-related incidents. Travel disruptions are also expected to increase, with road obstructions and poor visibility likely to create hazardous driving conditions across affected regions.
The following communities are expected to be most affected by the inclement weather:
- Ladysmith
- Dannhauser
- Underberg
- Greater Kokstad
- Escourt
- Giants Castle
- Mooi River
- Newcastle
- Okhahlamba
- Richmond
- The Msunduzi
- Ubuhlebezwe
- uMngeni
- uMuzuwabantu
- Umzimkhulu
- Sobabili
- Ingwe
- Impendle
- Indaka
In response to the conditions, SAWS has urged residents in these areas to remain indoors where possible, limit unnecessary travel, and avoid crossing rivers or swollen streams, particularly where water levels exceed ankle height.
Motorists caught in floodwaters have been strongly advised to abandon their vehicles and move to higher ground, rather than attempting to drive through submerged roads.
At the same time, the weather service has cautioned against outdoor leisure activities during storm conditions. Fishing and golfing, in particular, have been flagged as high-risk, as fishing rods and golf clubs are effective conductors of electricity and significantly increase the likelihood of lightning strikes.
However, the warning extends beyond Monday’s forecast.
SAWS has cautioned that persistent rainfall and recurring thunderstorms are likely to continue throughout the Christmas and New Year period, placing sustained pressure on already vulnerable areas. Central and eastern parts of the country are expected to remain at heightened risk as the festive season progresses.
These concerns were reinforced during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, 18 December 2025, where SAWS Senior Forecaster Jacqueline Modika outlined the broader national outlook.
She explained that while much of the country can expect partly cloudy conditions with temperatures ranging from warm to cool, isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers will continue to affect mainly the central and eastern regions.
“Much of the rainfall during this period will be associated with afternoon and evening thundershowers, which may at times be accompanied by heavy downpours, lightning and gusty winds,” said Modika, addressing the media. She further added that periods of increased moisture may also result in morning showers in some areas.
Importantly, the briefing also highlighted SAWS’s latest seasonal climate outlook for the 2025/26 summer season, covering December 2025 to April 2026, released through its Disaster Risk Reduction function. According to Modika, the outlook points to a transition towards a weak La Niña state, which is expected to influence rainfall and temperature patterns across South Africa.
“A Niña refers to a climate pattern where the waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become cooler than normal. This cooling alters global wind and weather patterns,” she said.
“It typically brings above-normal summer rainfall to the north-eastern parts of South Africa such as Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of the North West and Free State. Furthermore, climate model predictions suggest an increased likelihood of above-normal rainfall over the central and eastern parts of South Africa, particularly in the north-eastern summer rainfall regions,” Modika added.
These projections align with current short-term forecasts, which indicate above-normal rainfall across central and eastern parts of the country, alongside generally warm to cool conditions nationwide. The Highveld is expected to experience frequent afternoon thunderstorms on most days, while eastern provinces face a 30 to 60% chance of afternoon storms as Christmas and the New Year approach.
Against this backdrop, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has echoed SAWS’s warnings, calling for heightened vigilance as weather-related risks escalate during the festive season. While welcoming the anticipated rainfall in many areas, Hlabisa cautioned that the prevailing conditions substantially increase the risk of flooding, lightning, strong winds and poor visibility on roads.
The Minister urged communities, holidaymakers and travellers to remain alert, closely monitor official weather updates, heed warnings issued by authorities, and avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and low-lying areas, where conditions can change rapidly and without warning.
“Secure homes, informal structures, and loose items that may be affected by strong rainfall and winds. Stay indoors where possible or exercise extra caution when travelling, particularly during thunderstorms. Keep children and other vulnerable loved ones away from swollen rivers, streams and open water, and promptly report weather-related emergencies to local disaster management centres,” Hlabisa said.
As families travel and gather to celebrate the festive season, the Minister stressed that safety must remain a priority.
“We urge everyone to act responsibly, remain vigilant and cooperate with local authorities to prevent avoidable loss of life and damage,” he said.
Hlabisa further confirmed that the department, working in coordination with provincial and municipal disaster management centres, remains on high alert and ready to respond to any weather-related incidents.
Meanwhile, SAWS has cautioned that wetter-than-usual conditions associated with La Niña are expected to persist into mid-to-late summer. While minimum temperatures are forecast to remain above normal across most of the country, daytime maximum temperatures are likely to be suppressed over north-eastern regions due to increased cloud cover and sustained rainfall. By contrast, parts of the south-western regions are expected to experience above-normal maximum temperatures.
“From a Disaster Risk Reduction perspective, the anticipated rainfall may bring positive impacts for water resources and agriculture, but it also raises the risk of localised flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas, informal settlements, and regions with poor drainage infrastructure,” elaborated Modika. She therefore urged communities to remain alert during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.
With central and eastern regions facing an elevated risk of severe weather, communities must be prepared for disruptions caused by heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and localised flooding. The convergence of unstable weather systems, saturated ground conditions and increased travel presents a tangible risk to lives and infrastructure. In this context, vigilance is not optional—it is essential.
Be safe and do not forget to read, Newcastle Factory Owner Hospitalised After Fending Off Armed Robbers to Protect His Family, if you missed it.
