Farmers, take note! (Another) cold front to hit SA on Thursday

Vox Weather warns stock farmers to brace for the chill after the SA Weather Service (Saws) issued a weather alert for an intense cold front sweeping in from the west on Thursday.

Here’s what you need to know.

Thursday’s cold front

With a strong cold front sweeping across the country this week, citizens and livestock farmers, in particular, are urged to prepare for decidedly cold, wet and blustery weather.

Saws predicted an intense cold front making landfall on the west coast this coming Thursday.

The cold snap is expected to have a substantial impact on the higher regions of Namakwa in the Northern Cape as well as the interior of the Western Cape.

Livestock care during a cold front

Farmers are advised to prepare for the cold front by ensuring their animals are as safe as possible.

It’s vital to have an emergency plan in place, such back-up power, ample stock of feed, and keeping animals in a safe location.

Here are some recommendations:

Shelter and bedding

Animals will need access to adequate shelter to protect them from wind and rain. This could be a barn or a stable, or any other weatherproof structure.

Add additional measures such as bedding, straw, blankets or coats (especially horses) to insulate them from the cold ground and structures.

Food and water

During bouts of cold weather, increase the feed as animals might need additional calories to maintain their body temperature.

They will also need access to clean and unfrozen water since staying hydrated will help regulate body temperatures.

If possible, invest in heated water troughs or regularly check and break up ice in their water sources.

Windbreaks

If indoor shelter isn’t available, farmers can create windbreaks using bales of snow or wooden panels to protect animals from gusty wind conditions.

Cold front facts

A brief explainer from the South African weather service might help us understand the situation better.

“When a large cold air mass collides with warmer air, the cold air advances, undercutting and pushing the warm air upward.

“Cumulonimbus clouds form a distinct line along the boundary separating these air masses. As the cold front moves across, the cloud cover rolls in, and the temperature can noticeably drop by 5 degrees Celsius or more within the first hour.”

These weather conditions can also usher in rain, gusty winds, and sometimes even thunderstorms.

Rain forecast for this week

Apart from the cold front, Mpumalanga and Limpopo will experience damp conditions this week.

Starting Tuesday, the escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo should anticipate drizzle and light rain.

As we move into Wednesday, the weather service predicts isolated showers and rain along the southwest coast and the adjacent interior, heralding the approaching cold front.

Thursday is set to bring isolated to scattered showers and possible thunderstorms over the western regions of the country, and much of the Eastern Cape.

Additionally, widespread showers and rain are anticipated along the Cape coastline and the adjacent interior.