Cold weekend expected in Pretoria due to widespread snow
Pretoria residents can brace themselves for a cold weekend as widespread snow is expected in several parts of South Africa.
Prepare for a cold weekend as widespread snow is expected in several parts of South Africa. It’s time to take necessary precautions and plan ahead.
According to VoxWeather, the experienced forecaster Annette Botha predicts that three cold fronts are expected to make landfall this week and this weekend. Her expertise gives us a reliable forecast.
“Cold conditions are spreading over central South Africa behind a cold front this Thursday, with the next cold front arriving in the south-west on Thursday evening.”
Also read: How to stay warm safely in the chilly Pretoria weather
Botha said widespread snow can be expected this weekend and even a dusting of snow possible over Table Mountain on Sunday.
On Thursday, light snowfall is expected in the Southern Drakensberg and Lesotho.
Botha added that on Sunday, a strong cold front reaching the country could cause significant and widespread snow over the Cape provinces.
❄️LATEST #SNOW FORECAST | 3 – 8 July 2024 ❄️
Freezing levels are expected to significantly drop from this Wed(3 July) as a series of cold fronts move over SA
This is an advance forecast. The model run is still more than 4 days ahead so the forecast could change#VoxWeather pic.twitter.com/qKaRMuaDyQ
— Vox Weather (@VoxWeatherZa) July 3, 2024
The dos and don’ts this winter:
Heating safety:
– Be cautious when using alternative heating sources.
– Check with your local fire department to ensure the legality of using fuel heaters in your residential area. Fill fuel heaters outside and make sure they have cooled down before refilling them.
– Keep heaters at least 1m away from flammable materials, and ensure the floor and nearby walls are properly insulated.
– Only use the type of fuel prescribed for your heating unit and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
– Store ash in a metal container outside and away from your home.
– Keep open flames away from walls, furniture, drapery, and other flammable items.
– Keep a screen in front of the fireplace.
– Have your heating units inspected and cleaned by a certified specialist once a year.
Electrical safety:
– Have the electrical wiring in your home checked by an electrician.
– Inspect extension cords for frayed or exposed wires, loose plugs, and other signs of wear.
– Make sure outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
– Avoid running wiring under rugs, over nails, or across high-traffic areas.
– Do not overload extension cords or outlets.
– Consider using a Underwriter Laboratories (UL) approved unit with built-in circuit breakers if you need to plug in multiple appliances.
– Ensure insulation does not come into contact with bare electrical wiring.
Tips for escaping a fire:
– Review escape routes with your family and practise escaping from each room.
– Ensure that windows can be easily opened from the inside. Also, make sure that security gratings on windows have a mechanism for easy opening from the inside.
– If your home has multiple levels, consider investing in escape ladders.
– Ensure that burglar bars and other anti-theft mechanisms can be easily opened from the inside.
– Teach family members to stay close to the floor (where the air is safer during a fire) when escaping from a fire.
– Clean out storage areas regularly to prevent the accumulation of flammable materials.
