South African Weather Service

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is the national meteorological service of South Africa, responsible for monitoring weather conditions, issuing forecasts, and providing warnings about severe weather events. SAWS is currently newsworthy due to the exceptionally heavy rainfall impacting north-eastern South Africa, particularly the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Recent reports highlight rainfall totals of hundreds of millimeters in some areas, leading to widespread flooding. This has resulted in the Kruger National Park suspending visits and evacuating personnel. The extreme weather and associated flooding underscore the critical role of SAWS in providing timely and accurate weather information to protect lives and property, and its relevance in a region increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.