SNOW, rain, and cold weather expected from TODAY in SA

The weather services warned that widespread SNOW, rain and cold are expected in South Africa from TODAY. Here is the latest.

By: Corné van Zyl

SNOW and rain are expected in South Africa from TODAY.

WIDESPREAD SNOW, RAIN AND VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEK

According to the SA Weather Service (SAWS) a spell of very cold and rainy weather is expected to affect the Western, Northern, and Eastern Cape later this week, extending into the weekend.

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“This rainy spell will be heralded by the arrival of a cold front over the south-western part of the Western Cape on Thursday morning.

“Daytime temperatures are expected to drop significantly over the southern half of the country, while a range of wintry weather can be anticipated, including widespread significant rainfall and snowfalls over mountainous terrain as well as marine gales and very rough seas over the southern oceanic areas.”

SAWS

DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP SIGNIFICANTLY

It furthermore said upper-air troughs and closely related cut-off lows are a familiar feature of weather over southern Africa.

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It is also associated with prolonged episodes of rainfall, often of an extreme nature.

“It is noteworthy that the extreme rainfall and flooding which affected KwaZulu-Natal during April and May 2022 were associated with cut-off low weather systems on both occasions.”

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THE EXTREME RAINFALL AND FLOODING IN KZN IN 2022 WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SIMILAR WEATHER SYSTEMS

The weather conditions will start on Thursday with a well-developed upper-air trough nearing the Western and Northern Cape, subsequently cutting off and establishing a cold core, characteristic of cut-off upper-air systems.

“A particularly strong southern Atlantic high-pressure system is expected to extend a ridge eastward in the wake of the cold front, introducing pronounced and sustained onshore flow along the southern coastline of the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape during the weekend. Moreover, the presence of coastal mountain ranges (such as the Outeniqua and Swartberg) will enhance the vertical motion of air, thus enhancing the likelihood of heavy orographically-induced rainfall.”

SAWS

SIGNIFICANT, WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN REGIONS

The SAWS said it is this combination of surface and upper-air systems that are expected to raise the likelihood of significant, widespread, and heavy rainfall, especially over the coastal mountain regions, leading to localised flooding.

Daytime temperatures for this week are expected to drop significantly from Friday into Saturday, where maximum temperatures may be below 10°C in places.

It furthermore said light snowfall is possible over the south-western mountains of the Western Cape as well as the southern high ground of the Northern Cape on Friday afternoon into Saturday.

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SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY

According to the SAWS, the sea state will also be affected with wave heights of 4.0 to 5.0 m between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Friday into Saturday.

“Strong to near gale force south-easterly winds are expected north of Cape Point on Friday while spreading along the south coast on Saturday. These strong winds, accompanied by significant wave heights, will result in very rough and choppy sea conditions.”

It is expected that the cloudy and cold to very cold weather will dominate the Northern and Western Cape from Friday onwards, spreading to include most of the Eastern Cape during the weekend.

COLD TO VERY COLD WEATHER WILL DOMINATE THE NC AND WC FROM FRIDAY

“Widespread rain and showers will accompany this system, with the likelihood of heavy rain and localised flooding being of particular concern for the southern and south-eastern coastline and adjacent interior, as alluded to earlier.”

SAWS

It urged that farmers of small stock are advised to move animals to dry shelters at lower elevations.

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FARMERS URGED TO MOVE ANIMALS TO DRY SHELTERS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS

“Moreover, only experienced, well-prepared hikers and climbers should venture into the mountains and hiking trails of Western and Eastern Cape this weekend. The risk of hypothermia in mountainous terrain, especially if lost, injured or ill-prepared, could prove to be life-threatening.”