The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a severe winter weather alert as a powerful Cut-Off Low (COL) weather system has landed in the country from Saturday, 7 June 2025.
The system is expected to bring snowfalls, damaging winds, heavy rains, and significantly colder temperatures to most provinces — with Limpopo the only region likely to escape snowfall.
“The intense weather pattern is forecast to affect the Western and Northern Cape from Saturday morning, moving eastward to impact central and eastern provinces by Monday and Tuesday. A sharp drop in daytime temperatures, dipping below 10°C in many areas, is expected to last until at least Wednesday, 11 June,” SAWS stated.
Farmers, especially those with small livestock, are urged to take precautionary steps to protect animals from the bitter cold and wind exposure.
Key Weather Impacts:
- Snowfalls are expected across most provinces except Limpopo, with potentially disruptive conditions along mountain passes, including Van Reenen’s Pass on the N3.
- Strong surface winds from Sunday could increase wildfire risks in central and eastern inland regions.
- Gale-force coastal winds and dangerously rough seas will batter the coast from Friday through Tuesday, starting in the southwest and moving along the southern and eastern coastline.
- Heavy rain may lead to localised flooding in parts of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal from Sunday into Monday.
- Severe thunderstorms with possible hail and damaging winds are anticipated over North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal early next week.
- Light snowfall may reach Gauteng and Mpumalanga’s highveld on Monday night into Tuesday, though forecasters note some uncertainty in model predictions.
The SA Weather Service is closely monitoring developments and will provide updates through its official platforms.
Citizens are encouraged to stay informed via the WeatherSMART App, USSD (*120 *7297#), and social media (@SAWeatherServic on X, and South African Weather Service on Facebook).
