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Code Yellow Issued for Thunderstorms and Hail

The alert reflected the risk that isolated storm cells could drop heavy rain, hail up to 2 cm and 65 km/h gusts, with most areas only seeing brief or no severe effects as skies cleared by Friday.

Overview

  • KNMI issued regional code yellow on Thursday warning of strong, sometimes short thunderstorms that could produce heavy downpours, hail to about 2 cm and wind gusts near 65 km/h.
  • Warning times differed by province, with the west roughly 10:00–14:00 and parts of the east extended to about 18:00, reflecting the expected east–west shift in activity.
  • Meteorologists said the storms were highly local, so only a few cells met the worst criteria while many towns saw light rain or stayed dry.
  • Buiigheid declined through Thursday evening and Friday offered more dry hours and sun with temperatures around 18 °C and a weaker wind field.
  • KNMI advised people to avoid open water and open fields, not to shelter under trees during lightning and to expect short-term flooding and travel disruption where heavy cells passed.