A powerful cold front is making landfall today over the south-western parts of South Africa, drastically altering the country’s weather outlook.
Weather warnings issued for Wednesday, 25 June 2025
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued multiple warnings across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, and parts of the North West province, as the system brings severe maritime and inland weather conditions.
The weather today is expected to deteriorate rapidly, marked by heavy rainfall, strong winds, hazardous seas, and a significant drop in temperatures.
A Yellow Level 4 warning has been declared for damaging waves between Alexander Bay and Cape Agulhas. This high-alert level signals a major threat to coastal infrastructure and port operations, with disruptions to beachfront activities also anticipated.
These hazardous conditions will extend to Plettenberg Bay by Thursday, with wave heights reaching between 5.5 and 7.5 metres, increasing the risk of vessel capsizing and accidents at sea.
Accompanying the marine threat is a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging coastal winds from Lambert’s Bay to Cape Agulhas.
These winds are expected to hinder marine navigation and affect operations in small ports and coastal towns. The interior regions are not spared, with a Yellow Level 2 warning in effect for damaging winds over the western and northern parts of the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, and western sectors of the North West and Free State provinces.
These gusts pose a threat to high-sided vehicles, potentially disrupting transportation and logistics on prone routes.
Further inland, the situation is compounded by a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall in areas such as Cederberg, the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, and the western Overberg District.
This rainfall could result in localised flooding, particularly affecting informal settlements, roadways, and low-lying regions.
Additionally, extremely high fire danger conditions are forecast over the eastern Northern Cape, western North West and Free State, Beaufort West in the Western Cape, and much of the western Eastern Cape.
Despite the advancing cold front, these areas remain susceptible to wildfires due to dry and windy conditions.
The intense cold front is expected to continue impacting the region until Friday. Temperatures are projected to plunge, with snowfall likely over the mountain ranges of the Western Cape and parts of the south-western interior of the Northern Cape.
The public, especially small stock farmers and transport operators, are urged to take all necessary precautions. SAWS continues to monitor the system closely and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.
