South Africa, get ready! The SA Weather Service (Saws) has issued a stark warning: a powerful cold front is barrelling its way across the country, promising a dramatic shift in weather conditions. Expect freezing temperatures, scattered showers, and significant snowfall, particularly in high-lying areas.
Snowfall Warning for Eastern Cape and Drakensberg
The Eastern Cape and the Drakensberg mountains, bordering Lesotho, are expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall. Saws specifically warns of potential disruptive snow in the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, which could create hazardous icy road conditions, especially on Wednesday. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution.
Rain and Cold Conditions Expected
Saws forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela outlined the weather outlook for Tuesday, predicting isolated to scattered rain over the southwestern interior, with widespread coverage primarily over the southwestern part of the Western Cape. This rain is expected to extend into the western half of the Eastern Cape and the extreme southeastern part of the Northern Cape. Very cold conditions are anticipated in the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, increasing the likelihood of snowfall over the Drakensberg.
Damaging Waves and Winds Alert
The cold front isn't just bringing cold; it's also expected to generate damaging waves along the West Coast and into the South Coast, as well as damaging winds along the East Coast. These conditions could lead to localised disruptions of beachfront activities and potentially interrupt operations in some harbours and ports.
- West Coast & South Coast: Damaging waves expected.
- East Coast: Damaging winds anticipated.
- Navigation at Sea: Difficult conditions, exercise caution.
“We’re also expecting navigation at sea to be difficult with these conditions, so take caution if you’re around those areas,” Thobela advised.
On Wednesday, isolated showers and rain are forecast to dominate the Western Cape, the eastern part of the Northern Cape, the Free State, the southern part of the North West, southern Gauteng, into Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the western half of […]. Stay tuned to NewsRpt.com for further updates as this cold front develops!