Snow and severe storms are anticipated over the high-altitude regions of the Western Cape starting Thursday night, with predictions from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) indicating that the snow will extend to the mountainous areas of the Eastern Cape by Friday.
Snow Expanding Across SA
According to SAWS meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela, the snow and severe storms will gradually spread into Lesotho and the western regions of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) by Friday evening.
In addition to the snow, isolated to scattered thundershowers are expected to affect southern and eastern parts of South Africa starting Thursday. By Friday evening, Gauteng, the Free State, and western KZN could experience widespread thunderstorms, continuing into Saturday.
Rain Clearing in the East by Sunday
“The rain will begin to clear from the east on Sunday,” Thobela mentioned, offering some respite after the extreme weather.
Heavy Rains and Disaster Management in KZN
In KZN, disaster management teams remain vigilant as heavy rain warnings persist. The areas most at risk include Abaqulusi, Alfred Duma (Indaka and Ladysmith), Big Five Hlabisa, Dannhauser, and several other municipalities. Severe weather threats such as damaging winds, excessive lightning, and heavy downpours are expected across most of the province, with conditions continuing into Friday morning in the southern parts and the Midlands.
Spring Weather Transitions
While South Africa is currently transitioning into spring, Thobela explains that weather systems like cut-off lows, cold fronts, and high-pressure ridging along the east coast can still bring unexpected cold spells. “Although snow during spring is rare, it’s not impossible during this seasonal transition from winter to summer,” Thobela explained.
