South Africa braces for a cold front: Rain, flood risks, and strong winds expected
A Khayelitsha man carries a heavy bundle of firewood along Spine Road as cold and wet weather conditions continue to grip the Western Cape.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
South Africans can expect a chilly and unsettled Wednesday as a cold south-westerly flow continues to affect the southern parts of the country, bringing scattered showers, rough coastal conditions and windy weather along the southern coastline.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay, where dangerous sea conditions are expected to pose a risk to navigation and coastal activities.
A Yellow Level 2 warning for storm surge and localised flooding of low-lying coastal areas remains in place between Saldanha Bay and areas west of Cape Agulhas.
Rain chances of 30% are expected across parts of the Western Cape, the western and southern interior of the Northern Cape, the southern Free State, the Eastern Cape interior and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Light to moderate showers and rain are likely along the southern coastline and adjacent interior, especially during the morning hours in the Eastern Cape.
The Western Cape will remain cloudy, cool to cold with isolated showers over the north-western areas. Strong to near-gale force south-westerly winds are expected along the south coast, creating rough sea conditions and very cold weather over exposed areas.
In the Northern Cape, conditions will stay cold to cool with cloudy skies and isolated rain over the eastern and south-western regions. Farmers and residents in the southern Namakwa District are advised to prepare for cold, wet and windy conditions.
The western half of the Eastern Cape will experience cloudy and cold weather with isolated showers, while the eastern half will be partly cloudy and cool to warm, although colder conditions with occasional light rain are expected over the northern areas.
KwaZulu-Natal will see partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions with isolated showers and rain across most areas except the far north-west. Coastal winds will strengthen from the south-east during the afternoon.
The Free State will be cold to cool with partly cloudy skies in the west where isolated showers and thundershowers are expected.
The North West Province, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga will remain mostly fine and dry, although cool morning temperatures are expected before warming up during the afternoon. Hot conditions will continue in parts of the Lowveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
UVB levels will remain high in Gauteng but low over the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal due to increased cloud cover.
Residents along the southern coastline are urged to exercise caution at sea and remain updated on the latest forecasts and warnings from the South African Weather Service.