Level 4 storm warning today: hail and flooding risk in 3 provinces
SAWS has a level 4 warning for severe storms with hail and flooding over parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KZN on Monday 2 November, plus lower warnings in four more provinces as special voting starts.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has a yellow level 4 warning out for severe thunderstorms today, Monday 2 November, over parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Heavy downpours, hail and excessive lightning could cause flooding and damage to roads, homes and settlements (SAnews).
Four more provinces have a lower level 1 warning, and the KZN coast has a level 2. The storms land on the first day of special voting for the 4 November local government elections.
Which areas are under a warning today?
| Warning | Areas | What could happen |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow level 4 | Extreme south-central Limpopo; Mpumalanga Highveld and escarpment (not the extreme south-west); western and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal | Flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements from heavy downpours, hail and excessive lightning |
| Yellow level 2 | KZN coast and adjacent interior, Port Edward to Mtubatuba | Localised flooding and damage, with strong gusty winds, hail and lightning |
| Yellow level 1 | Extreme north-eastern escarpment of the Eastern Cape; eastern Free State; southern Gauteng; extreme south-western Mpumalanga | Localised flooding, damage to property and temporary structures, and local power and communication outages |
Sources: SAnews, SAWS forecast via Snow News, The Citizen.
The Citizen reported no fire danger warnings or advisories for today (The Citizen).
What will the weather be like in my province?
| Province | Monday forecast |
|---|---|
| Gauteng | Partly cloudy and warm to hot, hot in places in the north, turning cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers |
| Mpumalanga | Morning fog on the escarpment, then cloudy and cool to warm with scattered to widespread showers and storms (isolated in the extreme north-east) |
| Limpopo | Partly cloudy and warm to hot with isolated to scattered showers, widespread in the extreme south-central parts; dry in the extreme north-east |
| KwaZulu-Natal | Cloudy and cold to cool, warm in places in the north; scattered showers along the coast, widespread inland |
| North West | Partly cloudy and hot, isolated showers, scattered in the east |
| Free State | Partly cloudy and warm, isolated showers, scattered in the east |
| Eastern Cape | Cloudy and cool with showers, widespread along the coast in the eastern half |
| Western Cape | Cloudy in the south and east with isolated showers, fine in the west; high UV index |
| Northern Cape | Partly cloudy, cool to warm, hot in places in the central and eastern parts |
Sources: The Citizen, SAWS forecast via Snow News.
Does this affect special voting?
Special votes run today and tomorrow, 2 and 3 November, with 2,655,067 voters approved to vote early at home or at their voting station (SAnews). The IEC said it is ready to run special voting on both days.
For who qualifies and what to take, see our special votes guide.
Is Gauteng getting rain or heat this week?
Both. Only southern Gauteng is under today's level 1 storm warning, but the bigger story for the province is heat. Johannesburg is forecast to climb from 27°C on Monday to 32°C on Friday, and Pretoria from 28°C to 34°C, according to Gauteng Weather figures reported by The Citizen.
Temperatures go above 30°C from Wednesday, election day, and wind on Thursday and Friday could raise the veld fire risk in dry areas (The Citizen). The election-day outlook is in our 4 November weather forecast.
Where do I check for updates?
Warnings can be upgraded or lifted during the day. Check the official SAWS warnings page or the SA Weather Service on X (@SAWeatherServic) before you travel. SAWS has advised people in affected areas to stay alert to changing conditions and take precautions against flooding and storm damage (African Insider).
FAQ
Which provinces have a level 4 weather warning on 2 November 2026?
SAWS issued a yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms over the extreme south-central parts of Limpopo, the Mpumalanga Highveld and escarpment (except the extreme south-west), and the western and north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Is Gauteng under a storm warning on Monday 2 November?
Only the southern parts of Gauteng are under a yellow level 1 warning for severe thunderstorms. The rest of the province is forecast to be warm to hot with scattered afternoon showers.
Where can I check the latest SAWS weather warnings?
Use the official SAWS warnings page at weathersa.co.za or the SA Weather Service account on X, @SAWeatherServic.
Sources
- SAnews: Weather alerts issued ahead of special voting
- The Citizen: Heavy rain and flooding expected in these three provinces on Monday
- Snow News: SAWS regional forecast, Monday 2 November 2026
- African Insider: SAWS sounds Level 4 alarm for three provinces
- The Citizen: Gauteng braces for another sizzling week
- South African Weather Service warnings