South African Weather Service Warns Residents About Extreme Winter Weather Bringing Snow Across Almost Every Province Except Limpopo
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South African Weather Service Warns Residents About Extreme Winter Weather Bringing Snow Across Almost Every Province Except Limpopo

Winter is about to show its teeth across South Africa this weekend.

According to the South African Weather Service, the country is gearing up for a serious cold snap, with “extreme winter weather” expected to take hold and bring snow to almost every province—yes, even places that don’t usually see snow—except for Limpopo.

What’s Causing This Intense Cold Spell

The main culprit behind this chill is a powerful weather system called a cut-off low (or COL for short).

This system is notorious for stirring up severe winter conditions, and it’s set to linger, especially over the eastern parts of the country, right through the middle of next week.

So, expect this cold blast to stick around for a while.

What To Expect Over The Weekend And Beyond

Here’s a quick breakdown of the major weather impacts you should watch out for:

  • Snowfall Almost Everywhere: Snow could fall over almost all provinces, sparing only Limpopo. Some of these snowfalls might cause real problems, especially for drivers navigating mountain passes like the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass, where traffic disruptions are likely.

  • Strong Winds And Wildfire Risks: From Sunday onwards, many interior regions will face strong, potentially damaging winds. This raises the risk of wildfires, especially in central and eastern areas, right before the cold weather settles in. These windy conditions might stick around in some eastern provinces until Wednesday.

  • Rough Seas And Gale Force Coastal Winds: Starting Friday, expect near-gale force winds along the south-west coast, which will then spread to the south and east coasts by Saturday. These rough conditions could last until Tuesday on the east coast, making the seas dangerous.

  • Heavy Rainfall And Flooding Risks: The Eastern Cape coast and nearby interior areas should prepare for heavy rain on Sunday, which could lead to localized flooding and damage. This wet weather will then move to southern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

  • Bitter Cold Temperatures: Daytime highs are expected to stay below 10°C in many provinces starting Sunday, and gusty winds will make it feel even colder.

  • Possible Severe Thunderstorms: There’s a chance of some nasty thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday in provinces like North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. These storms could bring damaging hail and strong winds.