Cold front hits large parts of SA
File: A cold front is moving over the country. eNCA
JOHANNESBURG - South Africans are being warned of extreme cold weather.
The intense cold front has hit the Western Cape and is expected to affect large parts of the country.
According to the South African Weather Service, a low-pressure system is expected to impact all provinces except Limpopo.
CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has called on provincial and municipal authorities to be ready.
In the Western and Eastern Cape, several alerts have been issued for heavy rain.
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IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Extreme cold front sweeps across South Africa: Warnings issued nationwide
In a televised weather update, SAWS meteorologists warned that the cold front could lead to localised flooding, road closures, and power outages due to storm damage. Several weather alerts have already been issued, particularly for the Western and Eastern Cape, where the heaviest rainfall is expected. South Africans are being urged to brace for a major cold snap as a powerful cold front makes landfall, bringing icy temperatures, heavy rain, and widespread weather disruptions across the country. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a low-pressure system is moving through the nation, affecting every province except Limpopo. The system, which began impacting the Western Cape on Saturday evening, is expected to intensify in the coming days. According to SAWS, extreme weather conditions — including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and unseasonably low temperatures — will extend to the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, and parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Temperatures in some areas are forecast to remain below 10°C even during the day. In a televised weather update, SAWS meteorologists warned that the cold front could lead to localised flooding, road closures, and power outages due to storm damage. Several weather alerts have already been issued, particularly for the Western and Eastern Cape, where the heaviest rainfall is expected. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has called on all provincial and municipal authorities to activate disaster response plans. Speaking at a briefing on Sunday, Hlabisa stressed the importance of readiness."We are urging all local governments to be on high alert and ensure emergency services are adequately staffed and equipped. This cold front poses serious risks, particularly to vulnerable communities," Hlabisa said. The minister also appealed to citizens to take extra precautions, especially those living in informal settlements or flood-prone areas. Residents are advised to secure their homes, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep emergency supplies at hand. Public facilities such as community halls and shelters may be opened to accommodate those most at risk during the cold spell, including the homeless and elderly. In the Western Cape, officials have already begun monitoring key infrastructure and activating shelter programs. Provincial disaster management teams are coordinating with weather services to track the system's movement and issue updates. With winter tightening its grip, authorities are urging the public to stay informed through official weather alerts and updates. The cold front is expected to persist through the early part of the week before conditions gradually stabilize.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Rain, thunderstorms, and snow expected in KwaZulu-Natal
Isolated to scattered showers, severe thunderstorms, and snow are expected in parts of KwaZulu-Natal from Sunday, 8 June, until Monday, 9 June. This is according to a yellow level 2 warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The warning comes as the weather service also issued an advisory for cold, wet, and windy conditions in most parts of the country due to a cold front. The weather service said isolated showers and thundershowers are expected in the southern parts of KZN on Sunday but scattered to widespread over most parts of the province on Monday. Some of these thunderstorms are expected to become severe along the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday and over most parts of the province on Monday, the weather service said. 'The severe thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by heavy downpours leading to localised flooding, large hail/large amounts of small hail and damaging winds,' SAWS added. Meanwhile, the weather service said snowfall is expected over high-lying areas and mountain peaks leading to icy road conditions over the Beaufort West municipality of the Western Cape and southern High-ground of the Northern Cape Sunday evening, spreading to the southern high-ground of the Free State (reaching the extreme southern and eastern parts), northern high-ground of the Eastern Cape, as well as the south-western and western high-ground of KwaZulu-Natal Monday through Wednesday. This will be accompanied by very cold, wet, and windy conditions over the interior of the Western Cape and the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape on Sunday, spreading eastwards to affect the southern parts of the Free State, the interior of the Eastern Cape, and the western interior of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday through Wednesday. Also, snowfall is expected over almost every province, except Limpopo. Some of these snowfalls will be disruptive, affecting traffic flow over mountain passes (for example, the N3 highway at Van Reenen's pass on Monday, 9 June and Tuesday, 10 June). Moreover, the weather service said some of the more extreme weather impacts associated with this system include the following: Strong, damaging surface winds over large parts of the interior provinces from Sunday, leading to an elevated risk of wildfires, especially over the central and eastern interior, ahead of the cold change. These extreme conditions are expected to persist over some of the eastern provinces until Wednesday. Strong to near-gale force coastal winds and very rough seas from Friday along the south-west coast, spreading to the south and east coasts during Saturday, and lasting until at least Tuesday along the east coast. Heavy rainfall leading to localised flooding and infrastructure damage over parts of the Eastern Cape coast and adjacent interior on Sunday, shifting to southern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Photos: Snow confirmed in parts of SA
Snow fell across several regions of South Africa this morning as a powerful winter storm moves across the country, confirming forecasts of one of the most widespread snow events in years. Pretoria Rekord reports that snow blanketed high-lying areas of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Lesotho on this morning, as temperatures plunged and eager snow chasers flooded social media with photos of the winter spectacle. The heaviest snow is still to come — with over 50cm expected in places like Barkly East and Afri Ski by tomorrow. Vox Weather's Michelle du Plessis says the system will intensify as it develops into a cut-off low, dragging freezing levels lower and setting the stage for heavy snow over mountain ranges, including the Drakensberg, Southern Lesotho and parts of KZN, where the deepest accumulations are expected. With social media buzzing among snow hunters eager to see the snow, forecasters warn that travel conditions could become hazardous, especially on mountain passes and rural roads. Authorities urge South Africans to prepare for widespread frost, strong winds and icy conditions today and into next week, and to closely monitor updates as forecasts continue to evolve. Here is where you will find snow: In the Western Cape: Matroosberg Cederberg Swartberg In the Northern Cape: Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountain, including Sutherland Great Karoo High-lying areas in Cape provinces: Around Fraserburg Loxton Murraysburg Richmond Noupoort Colesberg Burgersdorp Aliwal North Molteno and surrounds Lesotho could experience snow depths exceeding 50cm tomorrow, particularly around Afri Ski, and the Eastern Cape may expect between 50cm of snow over the southern Drakensberg and nearby towns, including Barkly East. A mixture of snow/ice, rain and sleet is possible over the southern and eastern Free State: Bethlehem Warden Heilbron Reitz Memel Reddersburg Trompsburg and surrounding towns This includes the north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, around Postmasburg and Kuruman. Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for damaging coastal winds from Saldanha Bay to Cape Agulhas, and icy road conditions are expected across several interior districts, especially around Beaufort West. With snowfall already likely over Lesotho and nearby areas today, and heavier falls predicted through next week, South Africans are advised to monitor updates closely and prepare for travel disruptions, icy roads and sudden temperature drops. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
