Brutally cold and wet week forecast

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a weather advisory warning of a week-long cold snap beginning on Monday, 19 May, as two cold frontal systems are expected to hit parts of the country with rain, strong winds, snow, and freezing temperatures through Friday, 23 May.

The first cold front, due to arrive on Monday, will bring wet, windy and chilly conditions to the south-western parts of the Western Cape.

While not intense, it sets the stage for a stronger second front expected on Tuesday, 20 May, which will sweep through the Namakwa District, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

“Rainfall accumulations are expected to range between 15 to 25mm, with up to 50mm in mountainous areas,” said SAWS.

⚠️ Severe weather impacts expected

The cold fronts will bring:

Localised flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas
Strong to gale-force winds (55–75km/h), especially over the Western, Northern, and Eastern Cape interiors
Snowfall over high-lying areas due to plummeting freezing levels
General drop in temperatures, spreading east from Tuesday night
Disruptions to outdoor activities, infrastructure damage, and power outages

“High-sided vehicles may be at risk along national routes, and there’s an increased risk of travel delays,” warned SAWS.

🌊 Rough seas and dangerous coastal conditions

Maritime operators and coastal residents should prepare for:

Gale-force winds from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay
Very rough seas on Tuesday and Wednesday
Wave heights reaching up to 7 metres, with abnormal waves along the south-eastern coastline

📆 Cold to persist through Friday

The very cold conditions are expected to extend across the central and eastern interior of the country by Tuesday evening, with freezing temperatures lingering until at least Friday morning, 23 May.

SAWS is urging the public to monitor further updates via: