The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a message circulating on social media, warning of a storm referred to as “Storm Baron,” is false and should be considered a hoax.

“There is currently no tropical cyclone activity over the south-western Indian Ocean, and there is no officially recognized storm named Baron,” the weather service stated on Thursday.

However, 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, bringing widespread showers and thunderstorms to the northeastern regions of South Africa starting early Saturday morning, January 10, 2026, and continuing until Thursday, January 15, 2026.

The areas most likely to be affected include the escarpment and lowveld regions of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as northeastern KwaZulu-Natal.

“It is important to note that there is currently significant uncertainty regarding the exact position of the system’s core, which directly influences the expected intensity of rainfall. While several numerical weather prediction models suggest the core of the system will remain to the east of South Africa, over southern Mozambique, some models indicate it could track much closer to the country,” the SAWS explained.

The first scenario could result in relatively lower rainfall amounts, while the second could lead to excessively high totals, potentially reaching several hundred millimeters in some areas.

The SAWS continues to closely monitor the situation and will provide regular updates as new information becomes available.