Brace for bitterly cold weekend

As usual, winter’s last gasp is upon us before spring settles into summer.

And, while parts of South Africa – and KwaZulu-Natal – are preparing for a snowy weekend, Zululanders can also expect temperatures to plummet.

According to the SA Weather Service (SAWS), who delivered an icy message yesterday, a spring cut-off low is the reason for this weekend’s cold, wet, windy conditions, set to take effect today (Thursday).

The cold front hit the Western Cape yesterday, which will fan out across the country throughout Thursday, bringing changing weather conditions to KZN.

The SAWS warns of ‘strong to near gale force winds, with rough seas of 4 to 6m likely along the Western Cape on Wednesday, spreading to parts of the Eastern Cape and KZN today (Thursday).

“On Friday, an intense cut-off low pressure system will develop along the border of the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces and will move into the southern parts of the Free State in the evening,” said SAWS.

“This system will result in widespread showers and thundershowers over parts of the Eastern Cape and KZN (with possible heavy rainfall along the coastal regions), while scattered thunderstorms are possible over parts of Gauteng, western Limpopo, the eastern parts of the

North West and the Free State, as well as parts of Mpumalanga.

“Bitterly cold daytime temperatures of 4 to 8°C can be expected over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, the eastern Free State, and the interior of KZN, where widespread snowfall is likely.”

Western and southern parts of KZN can expect disruptive snowfall of between 30 and 50cm on Friday, continuing into Saturday.

Zululanders can expect a wet weekend, with Richards Bay’s temperatures reaching highs of 16, 15 and 19 degrees C on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively, while further inland, eShowe residents are bracing for 11, 11 and 15 degrees C, Hluhluwe 16, 15 and 19, while Mtubatuba can expect 17, 16 and 18.

Much rain is expected across the region over the weekend, but will begin to dissipate from Sunday.

“The cut-off low is expected to weaken and exit the country from Saturday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are expected to recover quickly from Sunday into Monday across eastern South Africa,” concluded the SAWS.