A new cold front is expected to move into South Africa this week, affecting large parts of the country with cold temperatures, rainfall, and strong winds.
South Africa braces for second cold front in less than a month
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that the system will begin to affect the Western Cape from Thursday, bringing with it scattered thunder showers and widespread rain.
Forecaster Tokelo Chiloane explained that the cold front will not remain confined to the Western Cape. As it progresses eastwards and moves out of the country by Friday, its impact will spread to central and eastern provinces.
“Rainfall will extend to the central and Eastern parts of the country — KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng will be affected by rainfall,” Chiloane said.
According to SAWS, this is the second cold front to hit South Africa in less than a month. The previous system struck from 25 to 27 June and caused disruptions across the Western and Eastern Cape, as well as the interior regions of the Northern Cape.
As before, residents in lower-lying areas of the Western Cape should brace for potential localised flooding due to heavy rainfall. Roads could become slippery, raising the risk of dangerous driving conditions.
“Wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures,” SAWS warned during the June event — advice that remains relevant this time around.
The new front is also expected to bring strong, gusty winds across the interior, with the possibility of structural damage and travel disruptions.
While snowfall is not yet confirmed, past patterns indicate that the mountainous regions of the Western Cape and parts of the Northern Cape may see flurries.
Daytime temperatures will drop to cold or very cold levels, especially in high-lying inland areas. In contrast, northern parts of the country — including Musina and Upington — are forecast to remain relatively warm this week.
At sea, residents and workers along the Northern and Western Cape coastlines should be prepared for rough ocean conditions. While no marine alerts have yet been issued for this front, the last cold snap brought gale-force winds and waves over seven metres high, severely impacting maritime activities.
Authorities urge the public to monitor official weather updates, stay indoors where possible, and take necessary precautions to remain safe and warm as the cold front moves through the country.
