South Africa braces for possible freezing temperatures

2 Views

According to the latest weather forecast, temperatures in South Africa are expected to drop to winter levels due to a possible cold front making its way to the country later this week.

Last week, parts of the country experienced cold weather conditions due to a cut-off low system as reported by The South African.

Just as it seemed the temperatures were improving, the Gauteng Weather Service issued a cold front warning for Friday in the province.

Weather Service predicts cold week across South Africa

The cold front will affect other provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Pretoria is expected to reach a high of 15°C next weekend, while Johannesburg will have a high of 13°C. In KwaZulu-Natal, some regions may experience rainfall and snow, with temperatures dropping to a minimum of 0°C around the Drakensberg area.

For the rest of South Africa, the weather is expected to be relatively cool, especially in the Cape.

With winter approaching and cold weather settling, here are some tips from The Conversation on how to stay warm and safe during the cold front:

Limit your time outdoors, where possible.
Dress warmly (thermal clothing, jerseys and closed shoes) and cover up exposed skin to reduce the risk of hypothermia.
Close windows and even use thicker curtains in the winter evenings to keep in the heat.
Identify and close gaps in doorways and window frames that could be letting in the cold.
Insulate homes and buildings to reduce the need for heating and retain any heat generated between loadshedding.
Intensify your physical activity.
Invest in some extra and thicker blankets.
Stay informed about the latest loadshedding schedules to ensure you can cook warm meals while the power is on.
Stay informed and monitor the local media about the latest weather updates and warnings.

Starting Friday, many areas of South Africa will see a drop in temperatures, with some regions experiencing lows of 0°C, the weather service said.