Red fire warning and storms on the same afternoon: what Joburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni need to know today

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 warning for veld fire conditions across 76 areas in seven provinces today, Thursday 5 November. For the first time this week, the warning includes Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria) and Ekurhuleni.¹

SAWS says “conditions are such that the FDI index is above 75”. FDI is the fire danger index. Under these conditions, SAWS says, “fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human and/or animal life.”¹ Level 10 is the highest level on SAWS’s impact-based warning scale.² The warning describes conditions in which fires could start and spread quickly. It does not mean fires are burning.

SAWS has also issued a separate Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms from 12:00 to 23:59 over Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Bela-Bela and Thabazimbi, among other areas in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. It warns of possible flooding of roads and low-lying areas, hail, falling trees and travel disruption.¹ SAWS has not linked the two warnings. Our reading is that the same afternoon brings tinder-dry veld and the chance of lightning together.

Where the Red Level 10 fire warning applies

All times are for today, Thursday 5 November.¹

• Gauteng, 12:00 to 19:59: Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria) and Ekurhuleni (Kempton Park).
• Limpopo, 12:00 to 19:59: Bela-Bela, Thabazimbi, Lephalale, Musina, Thulamela (Thohoyandou), Blouberg (Alldays), Lepele-Nkumpi (Mogoto), Polokwane-Moletji. Also Dr JS Moroka (Nokaneng) in Mpumalanga.
• Northern Cape, North West and Free State, 08:00 to 19:59 (38 areas): including Upington, Kimberley, Kuruman, Kathu, De Aar, Prieska, Vryburg, Taung, Schweizer-Reneke, Bloemhof, Welkom, Bloemfontein Airport, Bothaville, Hoopstad, Ladybrand and Wepener.
• Eastern Cape, 08:00 to 17:59 (17 areas): including Komani (Queenstown), Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Makhanda, Port Alfred, Somerset East, Cofimvaba and Burgersdorp.
• Western Cape and western Northern Cape, 07:00 to 19:59 (9 areas): Beaufort West, Laingsburg, Ladismith, Prince Albert, Robertson, Sutherland, Calvinia, Springbok and Pofadder.

SAWS’s instruction for the fire warning reads: “Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time.”¹

Staying safe today

• No fires or burning: do not make open fires, burn rubbish or garden waste, or throw cigarette ends from vehicles.
• Report fires at once: call your local municipal fire service as soon as you see smoke or flames. Do not try to fight a large veld fire yourself.
• Lightning: SAWS advises people to stay indoors and away from metal objects if possible, not to shelter under trees or tall objects, and not to go fishing or play golf during storms.¹
• Dry storms can spread fire: a storm that brings lightning and gusty wind but little rain can start new fires and push existing ones along quickly.
• On the roads: smoke can cut visibility suddenly, and storms may flood roads later in the day. Slow down and do not drive through flowing water.

More: How SAWS warning levels work · All warnings