Severe weather ahead: Heavy rains, gale-force winds, icy cold and plenty of snow across SA

The Citizen

19-05-2025

The full brunt of winter is expected to arrive tomorrow. See which areas and provinces will be most affected.
Snow alert: Widespread snowfall is expected in four provinces this week. Picture: iiStock
A severe cold front will sweep across the country from tomorrow (20 May), bringing snow and a chilly drop in temperatures in four provinces this week.
The South African Weather Services (Saws) has issued a warning advisory of very cold weather conditions expected to continue into Wednesday this week.
Severe cold front: Four SA provinces in the 'snow zone'
The Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Lesotho are in the 'snow zone' with some areas expected to experience heavier snowfall than others.
According to Vox Weather, the 'well-developed' cold front will bring heavy rain, snow over mountains and strong winds (up to 90km/h).
'A strong cold front is set to bring scattered to widespread showers and rain across the Western Cape and parts of the Northern and Eastern Cape from Tuesday into Wednesday,' the forecaster said.
Expect freezing cold, wet conditions
Rainfall totals of 20-30mm are expected in many areas, with 50-70mm likely over mountainous regions, such as the Cape Winelands, western Overberg, Cape Metropole and West Coast, increasing the risk of localised flooding.
'Freezing levels are expected to significantly drop with light snow possible late on Tuesday over the mountains of the Western Cape, the Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountains in the Karoo, spreading to the northern high grounds of the Eastern Cape, southern Drakensberg (15cm +) and Lesotho (10cm +) overnight into Wednesday morning,' said Vox Weather meteorologist Michelle du Plessis.
'Weather models are currently showing only light snow likely at the Matroosberg Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, but keep in mind that heavy rain is also expected in the Western Cape; therefore, snow might quickly melt,' Du Plessis warned.
Brace for snow and icy cold: These areas will be affected
According to Snow Report, the high peaks around regular snow areas such as Franschhoek, Paarl, Tulbagh, Worcester, De Doorns, Ceres, the Cederberg, the Koue Bokkeveld, Montagu, Robertson, Swellendam and the Swartberg range around Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn and De Rust in the Western Cape, as well as Uniondale, are currently in the snow zone.
Very cold conditions, heavy rainfall, snowfalls, strong to gale-force winds and very rough seas can be expected.
In the Northern Cape the towns of Sutherland, Calvinia and Noupoort are on the snow radar.
In the Eastern Cape the high ground around Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda, Cradock, Hogsback, Queenstown, Molteno, Dordrecht, Lady Grey, Barkly East and Rhodes may get some snowfall.
The forecaster's prediction for a possible dusting of snow in the Free State includes high-ground in areas such as Trompsburg, Zastron, Thaba Nchu, Ficksburg, Fouriesburg and Clarens.
Yellow Level 2 warning: Strong to gale-force winds
The SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for wind on Tuesday.
'A cold front is expected to result in strong to gale-force north-westerly to westerly winds over the interior of the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and Central Karoo of the Western Cape on Tuesday,' it said.
This weather can lead to localised damage to formal and informal settlements.
'Expect longer travel times due to localised problems for high-sided vehicles, especially on the N1.
'Fallen trees may affect transport routes, properties and localised power and communication interruptions,' Saws added.
Gauteng weather alert
Meanwhile, emergency services in Tshwane and Johannesburg said they will be on high alert amid the incoming cold, wet weather.
This as Gauteng Weather warned residents to brace for the province's first cold snap from Wednesday, with minimum temperatures plummeting to 2°C in Johannesburg and 4°C in Pretoria.