Latest news with #LehlohonoloThobela
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
More snow and biting cold ahead this week
South Africans must brace themselves for ice cold weather conditions to continue until Thursday. The first of many more cut-off low-system cold fronts that will come this winter season hit at the weekend. Significant snowfall was reported over parts of the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, with mountain passes closed as more snow is expected. The cold temperatures will also continue, following the first two cold fronts of the season that made landfall over the country this weekend. South African Weather Service senior forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela said temperatures were expected to start recovering to normal winter temperatures from Thursday afternoon as the cold front passes. Rain, winds and snow Thobela said warnings of disruptive rain, damaging winds and disruptive snow over the eastern areas remain, with cloudy and cold conditions expected over the central and eastern parts of the country. Disruptive rain and snow are expected to fall over parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Associate professor in meteorology at the University of Pretoria Liesl Dyson said while climatology suggests that Pretoria receives about 20% of the number of snow events that occur in Johannesburg, snow is rare in Pretoria. ALSO READ: Will there be snow in Gauteng? Here's what area will turn white this week Storms expected in Pretoria Dyson said it was still too warm for snow in Pretoria and surrounds, but added that a few storms were on the cards. 'But there is a slight chance of snow over the Witwatersrand overnight. The cut-off low responsible for the cold and rain over large parts of South Africa is still lying west of Gauteng and will move over the province overnight. 'Some showers are possible when this happens and some freezing precipitation may be present in the showers,' she said. Dyson said this would lead to bitterly cold overnight minimum temperatures plummeting to below-freezing in high-lying areas. Snow in the three Capes Vox Weather meteorologist Annette Botha said snow sightings have been reported over the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape and ice rain in the Free State and North West. 'Forecasts indicated more than half a metre of snow was expected to fall on the mountain passes near Barkly East, the southern Drakensberg and Lesotho. Gauteng has been ruled out of the snow forecast but ice rain is expected,' she said. Botha said the most dangerous part of the current cold front was the scorpion cell that was expected to dump heavy rain over the Eastern Cape. NOW READ: Power system under pressure but stable, despite cold front
eNCA
06-05-2025
- Climate
- eNCA
Criminal charges against those spreading fake alerts
JOHANNESBURG - Criminal charges will be laid against those who spread fake weather alerts. That's the stern warning from the Weather Service. It comes after a fake weather alert of extreme cold weather due to the 'Aphelion Phenomenon' The service is forecasting a warmer winter this year. "As we have stated. Keep to the weather service," said Lehlohonolo Thobela from the SAWS. "Once you get a warning, adhere to it. Make sure SAWS is on par with what you are hearing before you distribute wrong things.'
eNCA
06-05-2025
- Climate
- eNCA
Weather service forecasts warmer winter
JOHANNESBURG - The Weather Service is warning about a fake weather alert circulating on social media. It claims the country will experience extreme cold until August. The message refers to the 'Aphelion phenomenon', a term widely misunderstood. The service forecasts a warmer winter this year. Lehlohonolo Thobela from the Weather Service said what drives our seasons is the Earth's tilt. "Once it turns towards the sun or away from the sun is what actually drives our seasons," he said. "What we're expecting is a mild winter. We're expecting temperatures to remain above normal, which you'll get in winter."
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
It's chilly but no doomsday cold front for Gauteng
Gauteng experienced its first cold snap this weekend as the country prepares for the coming of winter. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has dismissed reports of a looming doomsday cold front across the country. The misleading reports come after Gauteng experienced its first cold snap this weekend, and as the country prepares for winter. Aphelion phenomenon The weather service said a 'hoax message' has been making rounds on various social media platforms claiming that there will be a cold spell countrywide, due to the Aphelion phenomenon, until the month of August 2025. By definition, Aphelion is the point in Earth's orbit furthest from the Sun. According to research, it is expected to occur on July 3rd at 3:54pm. 'It is important that we emphasise that the distance variation does not significantly impact temperatures or seasons in South Africa,' assured meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela. Thobela said reports of the Aphelion phenomenon about to hit the country are ' false and misleading.' ALSO READ: Get your blankets out: Cold snap to hit Gauteng this week Fake news Thobela said seasons are determined by the Earth's axial tilt, not its distance from the Sun. 'As such, we plead with the public not to circulate misleading information. According to our seasonal climate watch, issued on the 2nd of May 2025, minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal for most parts of the country during the winter season, above normal meaning that the temperatures are expected to be warmer than what we would get during our winter months. 'The Republic of South Africa will continue to be affected by different winter weather systems that are known to drop temperatures, like the cold fronts and cut-off lows. 'In addition, the southern coastal regions are expected to have below normal temperatures for the remainder of the winter period,' Thobela said. El-Nino Thobela added that the El Niño—Southern Oscillation (ENSO) returned to a neutral state and is predicted to remain there for the foreseeable future. 'It is important to note that ENSO has limited influence on South Africa during the winter season and is not expected to have a significant impact. 'However, as winter begins, the focus is over the south-western parts of the country, as well as along the east and south coastal regions. These areas are expected to receive below-normal rainfall early, mid- and late winter,' Thobela said. The weather service said it will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required. ALSO READ: Extremely high fire danger conditions expected in parts of Western Cape
Eyewitness News
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
SAWS warns public against spreading misleading and false information on weather patterns
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned the public not to spread misleading and false information on weather patterns. This follows a message purporting to be that of the weather service making the rounds on social media claiming there will be a cold spell country-wide that will last until August this year. The weather service has slammed this message as false. Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela said the seasonal climate watch expects minimum and maximum temperatures to be above normal for most of the country during the winter season, while temperatures will be warmer in the winter months. "The Aphelion is the point on the Earth's orbit when it is furthest from the sun. According to research, it's expected to occur on the 3rd of July 2025, and it is important that we emphasise that the distance variation does not significantly impact temperatures or seasons in South Africa. The seasons are determined by the Earth's axial tilt, not its distance from the sun. As such, we plead with the public not to circulate misleading information."
