The South African Weather Service has issued multiple high-level warnings for disruptive rainfall expected to cause widespread flooding and damage in several provinces starting November 16, 2025. Heavy winds have already caused damage in Pietermaritzburg, while rain contributed to a fatal crash in the Free State. Officials are responding to assess and mitigate the impacts.
On November 15, 2025, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued an orange level 9 warning for disruptive rainfall with a medium likelihood of severe impacts, including widespread flooding of roads and settlements, as well as danger to life from fast-flowing streams. This affects Gauteng, the extreme eastern parts of North West, and the extreme western parts of Mpumalanga, with the rain expected tomorrow.
An orange level 6 warning covers disrupting rain over the eastern parts of North West, north-eastern parts of the Free State, south-western parts of Limpopo, and the highveld of Mpumalanga. Additionally, a yellow level 4 warning targets the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. SAWS also noted a level 5 warning for heavy downpours and localised flooding in Gauteng, the Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The weather outlook for November 16-17 indicates scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers in the east, with partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions elsewhere. For November 17-18, isolated to scattered showers are possible in central and eastern areas, but widespread in north-eastern regions.
Already, heavy winds overnight in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, caused widespread damage, including fallen trees, power outages, and damaged houses. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements deployed teams to clear road networks and assess damage in coordination with the uMsunduzi Traffic Department and disaster teams. Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya stated: “We are working with the Umsunduzi Traffic Department. Our team from the Road Traffic inspectorates is working with various Traffic Departments just to clear various road networks as we have received a report of fallen trees. We have also received reports of various houses being damaged. We are in contact with our roving team from human settlements. The team is working with other members of disaster teams just to assess the damage that has been caused.”
Rain and slippery roads were blamed for a fatal crash earlier that morning on the N8 between Bloemfontein and Botshabelo in the Free State, where a bus and truck traveling in the same direction collided. Ten people died, and 41 were transported to hospitals, with seven in critical condition. Both drivers survived.