Overview
- A powerful cold front, expected between 1 and 2 July, will bring a surge of very cold air that is forecast to produce mountain snowfall, heavy downpours and damaging winds across wide parts of the country.
- The South African Weather Service has issued impact-based warnings including a yellow level 1 for severe thunderstorms and heavy downpours and yellow level 2 warnings for disruptive snow and for damaging winds and waves.
- Snow is likely over elevated terrain such as the Drakensberg foothills, the Cape mountain ranges and the Sutherland Karoo, and this could lead to road and mountain-pass closures and local traffic disruption.
- Coastal areas from Cape Agulhas to Port Edward face strong winds and rough seas that could damage informal structures, hinder small-vessel navigation and disrupt port and beach activities.
- SAWS gives about an 80% chance of widespread rain in the extreme south, roughly 60% in the southern and central interior and about 30% in the western interior, while Gauteng is expected to be cooler but largely dry, so residents should plan for travel delays and local flooding.