Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms have caused significant flooding in Parys, Free State, with several homes reportedly submerged and trees uprooted.

The Weather Service had issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms over parts of the Free State, cautioning of localised flooding and damage to property and settlements.

The warning also highlighted possible disruptions to electricity supply and communications.

Residents say the storm came suddenly, with some homes flooded, trees uprooted and roads blocked by fast-flowing water. They describe the storm as one of the worst they have experienced in years, saying the heavy downpours and strong winds caused damage within a short space of time.

One of the residents says, “It started raining and the wind was very strong, severe thunderstorms, like nothing I’ve ever seen in the last 10 years maybe.”

Weather forecast for today & tomorrow: 14-15 November 2026. Partly cloudy & warm to hot conditions are expected, with isolated to scattered thunderstorms possible over eastern parts of the country, and widespread over KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. #saws #weatheroutlook https://t.co/EfSz7MF4cc

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) November 14, 2026

Businesses in Parys have been badly affected by severe flooding. One business owner, Rikus Van Der Merwe, says about 128 millimetres of rain fell in roughly an hour, sending water through his premises and washing away agricultural equipment and bales of oats.

-Reporting by Culvin Mabasa