Severe winter storm to hit SA with snow, cold winds
The Weather Service has urged South Africans to prepare for a widespread spell of extreme winter weather that will begin this weekend and is expected to persist into the middle of next week.
A high-impact cut-off low system is forecast to affect all provinces except Limpopo, bringing snow, heavy rain, damaging winds, and a sharp drop in temperatures.
The Weather Service has issued alerts for a range of severe weather events, with the first impacts expected early Saturday over the Western and Northern Cape. The system will gradually move eastward, reaching the central and eastern provinces by Monday and Tuesday next week.
"This is a particularly intense COL system with the potential to bring disruptive and hazardous weather to most parts of the country," warned SAWS forecaster Kevin Rae.
Rae says snowfall is expected across most provinces.
"Light to moderate snow is expected in many areas, potentially impacting road travel, especially over mountain passes like Van Reenen’s Pass along the N3 on Monday and Tuesday. Limpopo is the only province likely to be spared snowfall.
"Daytime highs will struggle to reach 10°C in many areas starting Sunday, with strong winds further intensifying the chill. Farmers, especially small stock owners, are advised to take urgent steps to protect livestock from exposure and hypothermia.
"Damaging winds are expected to sweep across the interior provinces from Sunday, increasing the risk of wildfires, particularly ahead of the cold front in the central and eastern interior."
He adds that coastal regions will see strong to near-gale-force winds and dangerously rough seas starting Friday along the south-west coast, progressing to eastern shores by Saturday, and hazardous marine conditions continuing until Tuesday.
"The Eastern Cape coast and interior may experience flooding and infrastructure damage on Sunday, with southern KwaZulu-Natal expected to be impacted on Monday.
"From Monday to Tuesday, provinces such as Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal could face severe thunderstorms, possibly accompanied by hail and damaging winds."
Rae further added that possible snow is expected in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
"There is also a low probability of light snowfall in Gauteng and the Mpumalanga highveld on Monday night into Tuesday. While weather models remain divided on this outcome, forecasters are closely monitoring developments."
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