Michael Nethavhani from the Bloemfontein Weather Office says there is a possibility of runaway fires today and tomorrow in the western part of the Free State and North West, including the entire Northern Cape.
He says a northerly wind with a speed of between 25 to 30 kilometres per hour is expected. Hot conditions with maximum temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius are expected in most areas in the central interior, but temperatures are, however, expected to drop on Friday going into the weekend.
According to him, temperatures are dropping significantly because of the movement of a frontal system bringing in a southerly south-east wind causing lower temperatures. Maximum temperatures are expected in Bloemfontein (26 degrees Celsius), De Aar (22 degrees Celsius), and Upington (30 degrees Celsius) in the Northern Cape and the Vryburg and Taung areas (30 degrees Celsius) in North West.
He says rain is expected in some areas in the Free State at the weekend. There is an 80% chance of rain in the Eastern Free State and a 60% chance of showers and thundershowers in the central part of the province.
The Weather forecast for today is partly cloudy and warm with isolated afternoon thundershowers in the northern and eastern side of the Free State. It will become partly cloudy in the eastern part of the Northern Cape this afternoon. In North West party cloudy and warm to hot conditions with isolated afternoon thundershowers are expected.
CHRISTAL-LIZE MULLER / OFM News
