The South African Weather Service has predicted a wet and very cold week ahead for South Africa.
The cold temperatures follow in the wake of a cold front that moved over the eastern parts of the country on Sunday (May 30).
The cut-off low pressure system will be responsible for the majority of adverse weather expected over the next three days. This includes snowfall accumulation of between 5cm and 15cm over Lesotho and the southern Drakensberg mountains in the Eastern Cape, rainfall of a disruptive nature along the Wild Coast and north eastern KwaZulu-Natal, as well as wet conditions accompanied by very cold temperatures over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Over KZN, temperatures are expected to drop significantly today (June 1), especially over the extreme western parts (Harry Gwala, uMgungundlovu and uThukela district municipalities).
Similar to the Eastern Cape and Free State, snowfall is likely in the KZN Drakensberg Mountains today and going into Wednesday, with significant snowfall (10-15cm) expected over the Lesotho region.
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Consequently, Sani Pass may be temporarily closed due to snowfall.
There is also a possibility of disruptive rain over the north-eastern parts of KZN this afternoon into evening, leading to possible localised flooding of susceptible formal / informal settlements or roads, minor vehicle accidents due to unsafe driving conditions, as well as localised damage to mud-based houses.
Areas over uMkhanyakude, eastern Zululand and eastern King Cetshwayo district municipalities are likely to be particularly affected.
For Ladysmith, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-teens for the week, so get out your heaters and blankets and enjoy the cold conditions. Last night (May 31), parts of Ladysmith were hit by hail which took some time to dissipate due to the cold, creating a white snowy effect on the ground.
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