Trying to figure out what to wear today? Let’s break down the weather forecast for all nine provinces of South Africa so you can plan your day better.
We’ll also include UVB sunburn levels to help you stay safe outdoors.
Gauteng: Cool and Clear Skies with Moderate Sunburn Risk
Expect a fine and cool day in Gauteng. The UVB sunburn index is moderate, so it’s wise to apply sunscreen if you’ll be outside for a while.
Quick fact: Gauteng is South Africa’s smallest province by land size but has the largest population, with about 16 million people.
Johannesburg, the bustling economic hub, is its capital.
Mpumalanga: Mostly Cool with Warmer Spots in the Lowveld
Mpumalanga will see generally fine and cool weather, although some parts of the Lowveld might feel warmer.
Did you know? It’s the country’s second smallest province by area, home to roughly 4.7 million residents.
Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) serves as its capital city.
Limpopo: Cool Overall, but Warmth in Lowveld and Valley Areas
The Limpopo province will be mostly fine and cool, with some warmth in the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley regions.
Limpopo ranks fifth in size and population, housing about 5.9 million people. Polokwane is the capital and largest city.
North West: Expect Cool and Clear Weather Today
The North West province will have fine and cool conditions throughout the day.
It’s the sixth largest province in the country with approximately 4.2 million inhabitants.
Mahikeng (formerly Mafikeng) is the provincial capital.
Free State: Cool to Cold with Wind and Clouds in the East
The Free State will be cool to cold and mostly clear, but expect it to become partly cloudy and windy towards the extreme eastern parts.
It ranks as the third largest province and has around 2.9 million people living there.
Bloemfontein, South Africa’s judicial capital, is its main city.
Northern Cape: Partly Cloudy, Windy, and Cool with Warm Spots in the North
Northern Cape will see a mix of partly cloudy skies, wind, and cool to cold temperatures — except for some warmth in the northern areas.
It’s the largest province in South Africa but also the least populated, with roughly 1.3 million people.
Kimberley serves as its capital.
Western Cape: Cloudy with Showers in the Southwest, Partly Cloudy Elsewhere
The Western Cape is expecting clouds and scattered showers mainly in the southwest.
Elsewhere, skies will be partly cloudy and cold with some isolated rain.
Winds will be moderate to strong along the coast, shifting from northwest to southwesterly in the afternoon.
With a low UVB sunburn index, this province is home to about 7.2 million people, making it the third most populous. Cape Town is the capital city.
Eastern Cape: Mixed Weather Across the Province with Windy Conditions
The western side of the Eastern Cape will start with some morning fog, then mostly be partly cloudy, windy, and cool to cold with some isolated showers.
The eastern side will have partly cloudy skies, warm pockets, and scattered rain south of the escarpment.
Winds along the coast will generally be fresh to strong southwesterly.
This province is the second largest in area and fourth in population, with about 6.7 million residents. Bhisho is the capital.
KwaZulu-Natal: Cool with Warm Coastal Spots and Strong Coastal Winds
KwaZulu-Natal will experience fine and cool weather inland, with warmer conditions along the coast and in the northeast.
Clouds will increase and bring some partial coverage in the south.
Coastal winds will be fresh to strong, coming from the north and northeast.
It’s the second most populous province with around 11.5 million people and the seventh largest by area.
Pietermaritzburg is the capital city.
Weather Alerts to Watch Out For
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Yellow level 2 warning: Dangerous waves expected between Hondeklip Bay and Plettenberg Bay, creating risky conditions for small boats until Saturday afternoon.
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Yellow level 1 warning: Damaging waves and winds likely from Plettenberg Bay to Hamburg, affecting navigation and causing localized port disruptions through Saturday.
Cold, Wet, and Windy Advisories for Certain Regions
Areas in the southern parts of Namakwa in Northern Cape, Witzenberg and Breede Valley municipalities, and the Koue Bokkeveld region of Western Cape should prepare for very cold, wet, and windy weather.