More snow and rain expected- here is the latest weather update

More snow and rain as a cold front is expected to hit this weekend. Here is your latest weather update.

According to Vox Weather forecaster Annette Botha, the cold front is set to make landfall in the Western Cape on Saturday afternoon, along with a ridging high pressure and moisture from a surface trough bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms across the central and western regions from late Saturday spreading to the eastern parts of the country on Monday.

“Cold conditions will spread across the country from Saturday to eastern SA by Monday due to the high-pressure system being riddled behind the cold front.”

She said it is worth noting that the ECMWF and GFS models disagree with the snow forecast and that the ECMWF model is now showing significantly less snow than earlier forecasts.

“The ECMWF model shows a light dusting of snow over the Cederberg and Matroosberg mountains in the Western Cape and around Sutherland in the Northern Cape on Sunday.”

“The GFS model predicts more snow over these regions and includes the Little Karoo mountains, with potential snowfall extending into Monday.”

Botha said the GFS shows snow possible over the northern high grounds of the Eastern Cape, while the ECMWF does not show snow in these areas.

“Both models agree on snow for the Southern Drakensberg and eastern Lesotho on Monday and overnight into Tuesday.”

She added that the forecast is based on data from the European ECMWF weather model, which is well-regarded for its reliability.

“However, it’s important to note that this is just one of several models, and the predicted snow and rain amounts may vary.”

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh has previously called on the public to be heedful of severe weather warnings and consider their plans, including travel, carefully.

Singh said the global Early Warning for All (EW4All) agenda, in terms of which countries of the world are called upon to put measures in place to ensure that everyone on earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through lifesaving Early Warning Systems by the end of 2027, will only bear fruit if the public heeds the warnings of authorities such as the SAWS.