Gauteng to experience snow and freezing temperatures this weekend

Gauteng residents should prepare for an unusual wintery surprise this weekend, as a significant cold front brings freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow.

Starting Saturday, icy conditions will spread across the province, 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 Services (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 Thursday.

“Significantly colder conditions will then spread to KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Mpumalanga on Friday, 20 September, 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 Thursday, spreading to the eastern and southern high-ground of the Free State, the western and southern high-ground of KwaZulu-Natal and extending as far as the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga on Friday into Saturday morning.”

The SAWS advised 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, Wednesday, 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, Thursday, 19 September.

“It will be cold to very cold over parts of the Western Cape interior and the Eastern Cape on Thursday. Strong to near-gale force winds with rough seas of 4,0 to 6,0 m are likely along the Western Cape coast today, spreading to parts of the Eastern Cape coast overnight and to the coast of KwaZulu-Natal tomorrow.”

It furthermore said 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 Thursday 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 to 40°C) are expected to occur over parts of the Limpopo Valley and Lowveld of Limpopo ahead of this system.”

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