Upcoming Cold Fronts to Impact the Southern Cape

The Southern Cape is on high alert as a series of cold fronts are set to bring dramatic weather changes over the coming days. From heavy rain and strong winds to potential snowfall, residents should prepare for a significant shift in weather conditions. Here’s a detailed forecast of what to expect.

As the saying goes, “Everything happens in threes,” and the Southern Cape is bracing for a trio of cold fronts.

Here’s what to expect:

First Cold Front: Early Wednesday, 24 July

The first cold front made landfall early this morning, bringing a noticeable drop in temperature to the region.

Second Cold Front: Early Friday, 26 July

The second cold front is forecasted to arrive early Friday morning. This system could bring moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds to the Southern Cape. Coastal areas should prepare for rough sea conditions, developing along the southwest coast late Friday and extending to the west and south coasts on Saturday. The east coast will experience these conditions by Sunday.

Strong northwest to west winds are expected along the southwest coast on Saturday morning, spreading southward throughout the day. Windy conditions from the northeast are also anticipated along the east coast on Saturday.

Third Cold Front: Midday Saturday, 27 July

The third and strongest cold front is expected to make landfall around midday on Saturday. This front will bring rain to the western coastal parts of the Northern Cape and southwestern South Africa on Friday evening, spreading to the rest of the Western Cape by Saturday. Moderate to heavy rain with possible thunderstorms will impact these areas through Saturday evening, significantly affecting regions already hard-hit by winter storms over the past three weeks.

While strong to severe thunderstorms could develop just south of South Africa on Saturday through Sunday, they are not expected to affect the country directly.

Snow and Sleet Forecast

Will we see snow on the Outeniqua Mountain this weekend? Snow is possible over the high peaks of the Southwestern Cape from Saturday afternoon, spreading to the southern high grounds of the Northern Cape by Saturday night. It will continue to spread to the high grounds of the Western Cape interior, Eastern Cape interior, Southern Free State, and Lesotho on Sunday.

Additionally, sleet could fall over large parts of the southern half of the country from Saturday into Sunday.

Stay Informed and Prepared

Residents should stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during these weather events. Keep an eye on local weather updates and be prepared for potential disruptions caused by the severe weather conditions

George News