The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a detailed weather forecast for the weekend, predicting the first major cold front of the season.
South Africa weather outlook: Here’s what you must know
This weather system, influenced by a developing cut-off low-pressure system, is expected to bring widespread rainfall, strong winds, and even snowfall in elevated areas from 1 to 4 June 2024.
Starting Friday, rain showers will develop along the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape and spread over much of the province by Saturday.
Heavy 24-hour rainfall, with accumulations of 50 to 100 mm, is anticipated, particularly along the coastal belt.
Strong to gale-force winds and very rough sea conditions with wave heights of 5.0 to 6.0 metres are also expected.
Offshore, wave heights could reach 7.0 to 8.0 metres, posing a significant hazard to marine operations and beachgoers.
On Sunday, as the cut-off low moves across the country, cold temperatures and widespread thundershowers will affect the western, central, and southern regions, spreading to the eastern parts later in the day.
Some storms may become severe, particularly in the central and eastern interior, leading to large amounts of small hail and strong damaging winds.
Rainfall will continue into Monday, especially over the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Cold temperatures and snowfall
Cold temperatures, ranging from 12 to 17°C, are expected across the western and southern parts of South Africa from Friday, spreading to the central and eastern regions, including the Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga Highveld, and the interior of KwaZulu-Natal, by Monday.
Very cold temperatures, with maximums below 10°C, and mountain snowfalls are forecasted for the northern high ground of the Eastern Cape, the eastern high ground of the Western Cape, the southern high ground of the Northern Cape, parts of the Drakensberg, and Lesotho on Monday.
The system is expected to weaken and move off the southern coast on Tuesday, with lingering rainfall over parts of the Western and Eastern Cape.
Clearer weather conditions will return to the rest of the country, although temperatures will remain cold.