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The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Cold snap and clouds: Cape Town braces for chilly, windy weekend
The approaching cold front will bring increased cloud cover and stronger winds to coastal areas. Cape Town residents can expect a weekend of cold, clear skies followed by windy and cloudy conditions as a cold front begins to push into the Western Cape on Sunday. According to the South African Weather Service (Saws) forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela, the province is in for a partly cloudy and cold Friday, followed by a fine and cold Saturday, but will remain partly cloudy along the south coast. But the calm conditions won't last. 'On Sunday, a cold front approaches the Western Cape from the west, resulting in cloudy, cold and windy conditions along the coastal areas of the province,' Thobela told The Citizen. Clear skies for most of Saturday Saturday will start cold, with morning temperatures dipping to 8°C before rising to a crisp 19°C by the afternoon. Clear skies will dominate throughout the day, with no rainfall expected. Winds will be light and southeasterly, averaging around 9 km/h. Humidity will ease from 80% in the early hours to a dry 40% by 2pm, offering ideal conditions for outdoor activities—although residents should bundle up in the morning and evening, with temperatures expected to drop back to 13°C by 8pm. ALSO READ: Weekend weather alert: Clouds gather in Gauteng Cold front looms on Sunday Sunday's forecast marks a noticeable shift, it may feel brisker as the cold front begins to make its presence known. While temperatures remain similar, ranging between 8°C and 18°C, wind direction will begin to shift southwest by midday before turning westerly in the evening. The approaching cold front will bring increased cloud cover and stronger winds to coastal areas. Humidity levels will rise again, peaking at 80% by Sunday night. Despite the changing conditions, no rainfall is forecast, and skies will remain mostly clear until late evening, when they turn partly cloudy. NOW READ: Weather alert: Damaging coastal waves and very cold weather in EC on Mandela Day
The South African
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Warm sunrises and mild days for KwaZulu-Natal
Most parts of KwaZulu-Natal kicked off the week with warm mornings. Northern KwaZulu-Natal is experiencing slightly warmer weather. While parts of the country are bracing for cooler spells, KZN's northeastern regions are heating up. Lehlohonolo Thobela, a forecaster, said, 'We're expecting warm to hot conditions in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal this week, with partly cloudy skies prevailing.' Despite some patchy clouds, the chance of rain remains low across most provinces. Coastal areas may see moisture in the air, but no significant showers are forecast. Conditions remain stable heading into Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to be warm in parts of KwaZulu-Natal till Wednesday. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Partly cloudy start for Gauteng as temperatures are expected to dip
Gauteng residents woke up to a crisp morning under partly cloudy skies. Temperatures are expected to remain cool throughout the day and midweek. The South African Weather Service forecasts a maximum of 22°C for Pretoria and slightly cooler conditions for Johannesburg at 21°C. The province will continue to experience partly cloudy conditions over the next two days, with no significant rainfall expected. Despite the clear skies, temperatures are not expected to rise significantly. Weather forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela states, 'We are seeing cool to cold conditions dominating most of Gauteng, especially in the mornings and evenings. The maximum will remain in the lower 20s.' Warmer conditions may return towards the weekend, but the week remains in mid-winter chill. By Tuesday, temperatures in Pretoria may climb to 24°C, with Johannesburg likely to remain a degree or two cooler. Residents are advised to dress warmly in the mornings and remain cautious of fluctuating day-to-night temperatures. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
KZN braces for icy blast as snow looms over Drakensberg
KZN residents should brace for plummeting temperatures and the possibility of snow over the southern Drakensberg this weekend, as a powerful winter weather system sweeps across the country. The Witness reports that Lehlohonolo Thobela, a forecaster from the South African Weather Service (SAWS), says snowfall is expected from today over the high peaks of the Drakensberg mountains, Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. 'By Friday, very cold conditions will spread further inland, and snowfall is possible over the high peaks of the Eastern Cape and southern Drakensberg,' says Thobela. While temperatures in the Midlands and the foothills of the Drakensberg are expected to drop significantly, SAWS forecasts show that the cold will ease slightly from Monday as a warming trend sets in. Meanwhile, light to moderate rain is also on the cards for parts of KZN today, with a 30% chance of isolated showers expected across the southern parts of the province and into the Free State. Rest of the country in for a soaking Elsewhere in the country, a series of cold fronts were expected to move in between yesterday and Sunday, bringing disruptive weather, particularly to the Western and Northern Cape. SAWS has issued a yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall in the Western Cape, warning of widespread showers, possible flooding and dangerous conditions on roads. Winds of up to 80km/h are forecast for the south-western coastal belt, including Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas. Another cold front is expected to make landfall on Sunday in the Western Cape, bringing further rainfall and high seas, with waves between 4.5m and 5.5m predicted between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay. Small stock farmers have been urged to take precautions as harsh conditions, including very cold, wet and windy weather, settle over much of the interior. SAWS has called on the public to monitor weather alerts and take necessary steps to remain safe amid the countrywide cold snap. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
04-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Gauteng set for freezing weekend with rain and sleet expected
Gauteng is expected to face bitterly cold weather conditions throughout the weekend. Forecasters predict rain, sleet, and daytime temperatures struggling to reach above 15°C. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has urged residents to prepare for a cold front and possible weather-related disruptions. According to SAWS weather forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela, the cold front began affecting the province on Friday and will linger through Saturday. 'In today's (Friday) weather in Gauteng, it will be a cloudy day with cold temperatures, isolated showers and thunderstorms, but scattered over the southern part until the afternoon', said Thobela. Temperatures are significantly lower than average for this time of year, with Johannesburg peaking at just 14°C. 'Maximum temperatures are reaching about 18 to 17 degrees Celsius in the northern parts, for the central as well as the southern parts it is below 15 degrees with a maximum of 13 degrees in the southern parts, as well as around 14 degrees in Johannesburg this afternoon,' he added. Thobela confirmed that sleet had already been observed in certain areas. 'It was observed in parts of the extreme southern areas around Meyerton and some areas in the extreme eastern parts around Benoni,' he said. While not common in Gauteng, sleet is possible when temperatures drop below freezing in the upper atmosphere while surface levels remain just above freezing. These conditions have raised concerns for road users, informal settlements, and those with limited access to heating. Authorities are advising the public to wear layered clothing and exercise caution on wet or icy roads. While the cold front will continue through Saturday, a slow temperature recovery is expected by late Sunday. 'We're still expecting cold temperatures into the weekend… On Sunday, you'll start seeing a recovery in temperatures from the afternoon in Gauteng,' Thobela noted. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
