These parts of South Africa are expecting light snowfall tonight and tomorrow.
SAWS said there IS A POSSIBILITY FOR LIGHT SNOWFALL
SA Weather Service (SAWS) forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela said there is a possibility for light snowfall over high-lying Eastern Cape and Lesotho areas from Saturday evening into Sunday, mainly over parts of the Drakensberg.
It is worth noting that the light snowfall will melt very quickly.
Meanwhile, the SAWS forecasts near-gale to gale force winds, with speeds of 62-80km/h and gusts up to 90-100km/h, over the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, and the Overberg from Saturday evening through Sunday.
The prolonged duration of these winds is a cause for concern, as they could potentially lead to significant impacts.
The level six warning is in place from Saturday until Sunday midnight.
It also warned of cold temperatures, widespread rainfall, and potential flooding expected over parts of South Africa this weekend into early next week.
COLD TEMPERATURES, WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND FLOODING ALSO EXPECTED
“Following recent prolonged heatwaves and below-average rainfall over much of South Africa’s interior, cooler and unsettled weather conditions are expected across many regions over the coming days.”
The SAWS said an intense low-pressure system, known as a cut-off low, is forecasted to bring widespread showers and thundershowers to many parts of the country this weekend into early next week.
It explained that cut-off lows are large weather systems notorious for causing widespread flooding, as evidenced by events such as the well-known KwaZulu-Natal flooding in 2022 and the Laingsburg flooding in 1981.
PERSISTENT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS MAY LEAD TO FLOODING
Persistent showers and thundershowers may lead to flooding over the central and eastern parts of the country, particularly from Sunday into Monday, while severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and large amounts of small hail are possible over the western interior from Sunday into Monday.
“There is also an indication of heavy rainfall over parts of the Overberg and south-west coast of the Western Cape on Monday into Tuesday as the cut-off low exits along the southern coast of the Western Cape.
“The Cape south-west coast may also experience a strong to gale force south-easterly wind, which could affect coastal marine routines and operations.”
the SAWS said,
SAWS further stated that parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal will experience cool to cold maximum temperatures from Saturday, spreading to the rest of the country on Sunday into Monday.
Most of South Africa expects cool to cold maximum temperatures on Monday
“Day-time temperatures are expected to be in the high teens and low twenties across most parts and will even go down to the low teens over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“There remains uncertainty among Numeric Weather Prediction (NWP) models regarding the intensity and future movement of the system. This uncertainty could lead to changes in rainfall amounts and distribution and the South African Weather Service will therefore provide regular updates to the public and disaster management on expected weather conditions and potential Impact-Based warnings.”
the SAWS said.
Authorities advise the public to take necessary precautions
The SAWS strongly advised that the public take necessary precautions during this weekend and early next week. This includes avoiding crossing flooded roads, bridges, and swollen streams.
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