Cold weather is expected to sweep through the Southern and Eastern parts of South Africa, as from Thursday, into the weekend.
This is as a result, of a Spring cut-off low, which the South African Weather Service (SAWS), said is expected to bring along snow, very cold, wet and windy conditions, as from the 19 to 22 September 2024.
The cut-off low is expected to weaken and exit the country from Saturday afternoon.
According to Wayne Venter and Celeste Fourier, from the SAWS Forecasting Centre, the cut-off low-pressure system (the Northwards displacement of a deep low-pressure system), will introduce cold conditions to the Western Cape, southern parts of the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Significantly colder conditions are expected to bring disruptive snow, in high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, spread to KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Mpumalanga on Friday, 20 September, and reach Gauteng, North West and Limpopo on Saturday, 21 September.
Disruptive snowfall and bitterly cold conditions are expected to affect the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape (especially the north-eastern high-ground) from Thursday, spreading to the eastern and southern high-ground of the Free State, the western and southern high-ground of KwaZulu-Natal and extending as far as the southern Highveld of Mpumalanga on Friday into Saturday morning.
A cold front has arrived in the Western Cape today, Wednesday, 18 September 2024, resulting in showers and rain over the south-western parts, spreading to the Garden Route and Little Karoo by this evening and to the Eastern Cape tomorrow, Thursday, 19 September.
In contrast, very hot to extremely hot temperatures (exceeding 38 to 40°C) are expected to occur over parts of the Limpopo Valley and Lowveld of Limpopo ahead of this system.
SAWS has advised the public and small stock farmers to take the necessary precautions ahead of the expected adverse weather conditions to ensure the safety and health of people and their animals.
Picture: Raleigh Medical Group