South Africa Braces for Bitter Cold as SAWS Issues Weather Warnings

A widespread winter weather system is affecting large parts of South Africa, bringing cold temperatures, damaging winds, cloudy conditions and scattered rainfall across several provinces.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued weather warnings for parts of the Northern Cape as cold conditions continue to spread across the country’s interior. The latest regional forecast indicates that much of South Africa will remain cold to cool through Friday and into the weekend.

Damaging Wind Warning for Northern Cape

SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for damaging winds affecting the Richterveld, Nama Khoi and Kamiesberg municipalities in the Northern Cape.

The strong winds are expected to create difficult driving conditions, particularly for high-sided vehicles and motorists travelling along exposed routes.

Gauteng Facing a Chilly Weekend

Residents in Gauteng can expect cloudy and cool conditions, becoming cold in southern areas.

Johannesburg is forecast to remain cold with temperatures dropping to around 4°C overnight and reaching only the high teens during the day. Isolated light showers remain possible as the cold air settles over the province.

The cold weather has also prompted fire safety warnings as households increase the use of heaters, braziers and other heating devices.

Western Cape Remains Cool and Cloudy

The Western Cape is experiencing cloudy conditions along parts of the south coast, with light rainfall reported in some areas.

Cool weather is expected to persist, while strong coastal winds continue to affect parts of the province. SAWS has previously highlighted the risk of rough sea conditions and difficult navigation for smaller vessels during periods of stronger winds.

Free State and Northern Cape Feel the Freeze

Cold to very cold conditions continue across the Free State and much of the Northern Cape.

Northern districts of the Northern Cape face a chance of isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers, while daytime temperatures remain well below average for many inland areas.

KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Stay Cool

KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape are expected to remain cool to cold with cloudy skies and scattered showers in some coastal and eastern areas.

Morning fog patches may develop over parts of the interior, reducing visibility for motorists during the early hours.

Safety Tips During the Cold Spell

Authorities are urging residents to:

• Use heating appliances safely.
• Never leave open flames unattended.
• Dress warmly and limit exposure to cold conditions.
• Drive cautiously in areas affected by fog, rain or strong winds.
• Stay updated with official SAWS weather alerts.

While no widespread severe weather warnings have been issued beyond the Northern Cape wind advisory, the cold conditions are expected to remain in place across much of the country through the weekend.

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