South Africans are facing a dramatic week of winter weather as a powerful sequence of cold fronts sweeps across the country, unleashing damaging winds, disruptive coastal swells, and snowfall in high-lying areas.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued multiple Yellow Level 1 warnings ahead of what could be one of the most turbulent stretches of weather this winter.

The first front was due to make landfall over the south-western coast on Monday morning, August 4, bringing gale-force winds and sea swells of up to 5.5 meters.

A secondary front is forecast to follow close behind by the evening, intensifying conditions along the Western Cape coastline.

“These conditions will result in disruptions to beachfront activities such as people being swept off rocks,” SAWS cautioned.

“Coastal users and anglers on low-lying rocks are at risk of being caught off guard by high-energy waves and swept off to sea.”

By Monday evening, large parts of the coast between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas will be under threat from disruptive wave activity.

By Tuesday morning, this swell is expected to spread further east to Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay, putting both recreational beachgoers and small vessel operators on high alert.

Inland, residents of the Northern Cape and Central Karoo are bracing for strong interior winds, with speeds reaching 50km/h and gusts of up to 70km/h. Dust storms and crosswinds are likely to create hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-sided vehicles.

“Strong gusty winds are expected over the central parts of the Northern Cape,” the SAWS warned.

“Impacts include localised damage to informal settlements, reduced visibility due to dust, and the risk of localised runaway fires.”

As the cold front pushes further inland on Tuesday, August 5, temperatures are expected to plummet across much of the central and southern interior. Scattered to widespread rain is forecast for the Western Cape, southern Eastern Cape, and parts of the Northern Cape and Free State.

Worcester and Beaufort West are expecting up to a 60% chance of rainfall, while areas such as Springbok, Graaff-Reinet, and East London sit at around 30%.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop over high-lying regions, coupled with biting cold and strengthening southerly winds along the coast, which will make conditions feel even more frigid.

By Wednesday, August 6, the wintry weather intensifies as a second cold front barrels eastward, bringing a new round of widespread rainfall and snow to higher-altitude areas.

The Eastern Cape interior, particularly around Mthatha, Aliwal North, and Barkly East, is in line for snow accumulation.

SAWS predicts a 60% chance of snowfall in mountainous parts of the Eastern Cape, while the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal could see a 30% chance of rain and light snow over elevated terrain.

By midweek, freezing temperatures will dominate the landscape, heightening the risk of travel disruptions, power outages, and treacherous road conditions, particularly in rural or mountainous areas.

Residents are urged to stay updated with official warnings and avoid unnecessary travel during peak weather activity.

IOL News

Source link