Johannesburg: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a message circulating on social media warning of a storm dubbed 'Storm Baron' is false and should be regarded as a hoax. 'There is currently no tropical cyclone activity over the south-western Indian Ocean, and no officially recognised storm named Baron,' the weather service said.

According to South African Government News Agency, an intense low-pressure system is expected to develop over the southern parts of Mozambique in the coming days. This system is forecast to move further south, potentially bringing widespread showers and thunderstorms to the north-eastern parts of the country from early morning Saturday, 10 January 2026, persisting until Thursday, 15 January 2026.

The areas most likely to be affected include the escarpment and lowveld areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. The SAWS noted significant uncertainty regarding the exact placement of the system's core, which influences where the heaviest rainfall is expected. Some models place the system's core to the east of South Africa, over southern Mozambique, while others suggest it could track closer to the country.

The SAWS explained that the first scenario would result in relatively lower rainfall amounts, while the second could lead to very high amounts, potentially totalling several hundreds of millimetres in some places. The SAWS continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide regular updates as new information becomes available.