FORECAST: Warm week ahead, and then some light snow

South Africa is set to experience a mix of warm and cool temperatures in the coming days, with a significant drop in temperatures and even light snowfall expected later this month, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

This after the weekend’s freezing temperatures and snowfall in some parts of the country caused havoc on the roads, resulting in one fatality.   

Warm conditions across much of the country

Forecaster at the South African Weather Service (SAWS), Lehlogonolo Thobela, provided an outlook for the week ahead, highlighting warm conditions across much of the country.

“Today we are expecting just warm temperatures over the central parts, ranging between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius, that’s on average in the Northern Cape province. 

“In Gauteng, the weather will be cooler in the south but warm in the northern areas, with maximum temperatures reaching about 25 degrees in the north and about 24 to 22 degrees over the southern parts,” Thobela said.

The Eastern Cape will experience varied conditions, with cool weather in the northeastern parts but warmer and even hot temperatures in the south. 

“It will be quite cool over most parts of the northeastern parts of the Eastern Cape but warm over most of the province and hot over the southern parts,” Thobela explained.

The Western Cape, meanwhile, will see cooler conditions in the west but warmer weather in the east. 

“Just warm temperatures are expected across the country,” Thobela said.

Cooler weather forecast for the Western Cape

Looking ahead to Wednesday, Thobela forecasted hot temperatures in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga, with highs of 34 degrees Celsius, and similarly warm to hot conditions in Limpopo. 

“It will be warm over most parts of the country, with maximums between 25 and 30 degrees over the central parts,” he noted. 

He said that cooler weather will persist in the Western Cape, especially along the west coast, where temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 22 degrees.

The heat is set to continue through the week, especially in Limpopo and the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with hot conditions predicted for the 26 and 27 September. 

“It will be hot over most parts of Limpopo on the 26th and 27th,” Thobela said.

Central regions like the Free State, North West and Gauteng will remain warm during this period.

However, a significant temperature drop is expected later in the month, starting on Sunday, 29 September. 

“It will be cold over the southern parts, and the Western Cape will be very cold, with maximums ranging between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius,” Thobela said. 

The Eastern Cape will remain cool, with colder conditions in the central and southwestern parts.

Some light snow expected

On the 30 September, cold conditions will spread to KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Free State. 

“There is some light snow expected over the highland areas of the Eastern Cape, as well as the southwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the border of Lesotho, between the 30th [September] and 1 October,” Thobela revealed, though he assured that the snowfall would be light.

The cold snap will extend to the escarpment of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal on 1 October, with temperatures starting to recover by Tuesday, 2 October.

South Africans are advised to prepare for fluctuating temperatures and possible snow in high-lying areas over the next week.