Gauteng set for freezing weekend with rain and sleet expected
According to SAWS weather forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela, the cold front began affecting the province on Friday and will linger through Saturday.
'In today's (Friday) weather in Gauteng, it will be a cloudy day with cold temperatures, isolated showers and thunderstorms, but scattered over the southern part until the afternoon', said Thobela.
Temperatures are significantly lower than average for this time of year, with Johannesburg peaking at just 14°C.
'Maximum temperatures are reaching about 18 to 17 degrees Celsius in the northern parts, for the central as well as the southern parts it is below 15 degrees with a maximum of 13 degrees in the southern parts, as well as around 14 degrees in Johannesburg this afternoon,' he added.
Thobela confirmed that sleet had already been observed in certain areas.
'It was observed in parts of the extreme southern areas around Meyerton and some areas in the extreme eastern parts around Benoni,' he said.
While not common in Gauteng, sleet is possible when temperatures drop below freezing in the upper atmosphere while surface levels remain just above freezing.
These conditions have raised concerns for road users, informal settlements, and those with limited access to heating. Authorities are advising the public to wear layered clothing and exercise caution on wet or icy roads.
While the cold front will continue through Saturday, a slow temperature recovery is expected by late Sunday.
'We're still expecting cold temperatures into the weekend… On Sunday, you'll start seeing a recovery in temperatures from the afternoon in Gauteng,' Thobela noted.
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