Thursday weather: Rain returns to north-east as Western Cape braces for heatwave

Rain and thunderstorms are forecast over parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West and KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, while much of the rest of South Africa remains dry. Picture: South African Weather Service.

South Africans can expect a largely settled start to October on Thursday, with rain and thunderstorms mainly confined to the north-eastern parts of the country, while hot to very hot conditions develop over parts of the Western Cape.

The South African Weather Service has issued no impact-based severe weather warnings, fire danger warnings or advisories for Thursday.

Rainfall is expected mainly over Limpopo, Mpumalanga, northern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of North West and Gauteng.

Limpopo will be cloudy and cool, with a 30% chance of isolated showers and thundershowers. Conditions are expected to become partly cloudy during the late afternoon.

Mpumalanga will also be cloudy and cool, with a 30% chance of isolated showers and thundershowers across most of the province. The extreme western parts are expected to remain dry.

KwaZulu-Natal will see morning fog over the interior before partly cloudy and cool to cold conditions set in. A 60% chance of scattered showers and rain is expected in the north-east of the province, while rainfall chances decrease farther inland.

North West will be partly cloudy and cool, becoming cloudy in the north. A 30% chance of isolated showers and rain is forecast for the north-east.

Gauteng can expect a cloudy and cool to cold start to Thursday, with a 30% chance of isolated showers and thundershowers over the extreme north during the early part of the day.

The province is expected to become partly cloudy as conditions improve. The UVB sunburn index will be moderate.

The Free State, meanwhile, is expected to remain dry, with fine to partly cloudy and cool conditions.

A sharp contrast is expected in the Western Cape, where temperatures will climb significantly across the interior.

Morning fog and cloudy, cool conditions are forecast along the west and south-west coasts, but the rest of the province will be fine and warm to hot. Very hot conditions are expected in places over the southern interior.

Strong north-westerly winds are forecast along the south-west coast and in places along the south coast. The Western Cape's UVB sunburn index will be very high.

The Northern Cape will have morning fog along the coast, with fine, windy and cool to warm conditions elsewhere. The north-east will become partly cloudy.

Both halves of the Eastern Cape are expected to remain largely dry.

Morning fog is possible south of the escarpment in the western half before fine and warm conditions develop, while the eastern half will be fine and warm throughout the day.

Fresh to strong north-easterly winds are expected along the coast of the eastern half of the province.