South Africans urged to brace for cold weekend

South Africans are being urged to prepare for a cold weekend, with frost, rain and snowfall expected in several parts of the country.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says fine conditions are expected across the central and eastern regions on Friday, but cold temperatures will persist well into the weekend.

A Yellow Level 1 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms over parts of the Eastern Cape, where heavy downpours, localised flooding, hail and damaging winds are expected.

Snow has also been forecast in areas near the Lesotho border, where icy conditions could disrupt traffic. 

Forecaster, Lehlohonolo Thobela, says Gauteng is expected to remain fine, with cool conditions in the north of the province.

“We’re expecting cold temperatures for most parts of the central and southern areas of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, as well as parts of the southern   areas of Limpopo. We’re expecting partly cloudy conditions for mainly over the southwestern areas of the country, with a 30% chance mainly over the southwest coast of the Western Cape.”

Emergency services have also urged residents to use heating devices safely during the cold spell, warning that unsafe heating methods could lead to devastating house fires, serious injuries and fatalities.

Wednesday night was so unbelievably cold that I started questioning every life decision that had brought me to that exact moment. The weather wasn’t just cold—it was the kind of cold that made my bones send formal complaint letters to the rest of my body.

— 📝 (@penbyitunu01) July 3, 2026