ICYMI: Massive cold front expected to blanket the long weekend

SAWS Forecaster Luthando Masimini says cold temperatures are expected to affect the southern and eastern parts of the country.

"This system is going to cause some rain and cold conditions over the affected areas, which is the southern and eastern parts, with mostly today the affected areas being the south coast and adjacent interiors. For the eastern parts, we are expecting no rainfall as yet for Gauteng and Limpopo.

"Mpumalanga, where there is some clouds that are expected, we should also get some light rain drizzle on the escarpment areas there."

Masimini adds that the cold front is expected to move eastwards, affecting more areas from Friday.

"From tomorrow (Friday), Mpumalanga is expecting some scattered to isolated showers and thundershowers. This includes Gauteng and the central and southern parts of Limpopo.”

He has confirmed that there may even be snow over parts of Mpumalanga.

"We do expect cold conditions with this system and even snow in places over the east that will spread now to the eastern escarpment areas. Looks like the snow is likely to infiltrate the interior, even the areas close to Standerton may get some snowfall tomorrow (Friday) from the system. The system is expected to exit our area by Sunday, but before that we're still expecting some rainfall over the three provinces, with Gauteng expecting isolated  showers and thundershowers, but scattered in the southeastern parts."

The drastic drop in the mercury will push maximums down to the low teens.

"The temperatures are sort of gradually dropping tomorrow (Friday), and then with the lowest temperatures expected on Saturday, and then Sunday, still low temperatures, but with a slight increase as the system is exiting the area through the east coast, and then only next week, then we should be back to the summer conditions", says Masimini.

"Limpopo and Mpumalanga still expecting isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers there with some snow and cold to very cold conditions over the area there.

"Limpopo is expecting still isolated showers and rain with thundershowers over the eastern parts, including the escarpment areas,  where it should also be cold to cool."

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