Wrap up this weekend: Freezing temperatures and snow expected

Don’t pack away your winter woollies just yet! Icy temperatures are expected across the country, with possible snow in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

3 hours ago
Corné van Zyl 2 minutes read
Image used for illustration purposes.

An unusual wintery surprise could be on the cards for the weekend as a significant cold front brings freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

Starting on Saturday, icy conditions will spread across Gauteng, marking a dramatic shift from the recent high temperatures and offering a rare chance for snowfall in higher-lying areas.

According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), weather conditions are expected to change significantly as a cold front and cut-off low-pressure system (the northwards displacement of a deep low-pressure system) will introduce wintery conditions to the Western Cape, southern parts of the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape from tomorrow.

“Significantly colder conditions will then spread to KZN, the Free State and Mpumalanga on Friday, and reach Gauteng, North West and Limpopo on Saturday.

“Disruptive snowfall and bitterly cold conditions are expected to affect the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape (especially the north-eastern high-ground) from tomorrow, spreading to the eastern and southern high-ground of the Free State, the western and southern high-ground of KZN and extending as far as the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga on Friday into Saturday morning.”

SAWS says current numerical weather prediction models indicate the possibility of light snowfall over the southern parts of Gauteng and the remainder of the Highveld of Mpumalanga on Saturday morning. “However, there is significant uncertainty regarding this outlook, as the forecast may still change.”

SAWS advises the public and small stock farmers to take the necessary precautions ahead of the expected adverse weather conditions to ensure the safety and health of their animals.

“A cold front arrives in the Western Cape today, resulting in showers and rain over the south-western parts, spreading to the Garden Route and Little Karoo by this evening and to the Eastern Cape tomorrow.

“It will be cold to very cold over parts of the Western Cape interior and the Eastern Cape tomorrow. Strong to near-gale force winds with rough seas of 4m to 6m are likely along the Western Cape coast today, spreading to parts of the Eastern Cape coast overnight and to the coast of KZN tomorrow.”

SAWS added that light snowfalls are likely to occur over the eastern mountains of the Western Cape and the northern high-ground and mountains of the Eastern Cape, mainly from tomorrow afternoon into the evening, while becoming disruptive over the north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape later in the evening.

“In contrast, very hot to extremely hot temperatures (exceeding 38°C to 40°C) are expected to occur over parts of the Limpopo Valley and Lowveld of Limpopo ahead of this system.”

Read original story on www.citizen.co.za

3 hours ago
Corné van Zyl 2 minutes read
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