Get those jackets, duvets and blankets ready because icy temperatures are expected across the country this weekend – with parts of the Northern and Western Cape set to feel the pinch from today.

According to the South African Weather Service, a ‘well-defined cold front with potent upper air support’ will significantly lower day-time temperatures.

“Maximum temperatures may be below 10°C in places over the southern high-lying areas of the Namakwa region [in the Northern Cape], as well as over the central interior and central Karoo of the Western Cape. General windy conditions will accompany the cold and wet conditions. Rain and showers are expected over the southern parts of Namakwa, as well as over the interior of [the] Western Cape.”

🥶Very cold, wet & windy Advisory:
VALIDITY PERIOD: 30/05/2024 @ 14:00 SAST until 01/06/2024 @ 24:00 SAST.
AREA: Northern & Western Cape. #saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather pic.twitter.com/UL0LuTCDJX

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 30, 2024

Snow in June?

Pretoria Rekord reports freezing levels are expected to drop significantly starting on Saturday.

“Freezing levels are expected to drop significantly from Saturday as a strong cut-off low is expected to bring rain, snow, and a significant drop in temperature across the Cape provinces, Lesotho, central SA, and our neighbouring country Namibia,” according to a forecast by Vox Weather.

It says the first snow will fall on Saturday around the escarpment and the high-lying areas in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, near Molteno and Philipstown. Up to 10cm of widespread snow is expected.

Vox Weather says the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ (ECMWF) weather model is picking up the slight possibility of snow dusting over Gauteng.

❄️SA #SNOW STORY | 1 – 4 June 2024 ❄️

☃️2 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE FIRST WIDESPREAD SNOW OF THE SEASON ☃️

NB! This is an in-advance forecast!

Freezing levels are expected to significantly drop FROM SATURDAY (1 June) as STRONG CUT-OFF LOW is expected move over SA!#VoxWeather pic.twitter.com/vCUrjtCqZM

— Vox Weather (@VoxWeatherZa) May 30, 2024

“It is worth mentioning that the ECMWF model tends to be overconfident, and the forecast will change significantly as the COL [cut-off low, a pressure system that produces severe weather conditions] moves over the country.”

In a Facebook post, Storm Report SA says: “We are seeing a totally different picture from all the weather models with regards to snowfall so our map is delayed again. We will post as soon as we have more confidence in our forecast.”

🥶☔️🍃Weather outlook for Saturday & Sunday, 1 – 2 June 2024.
Central and southern areas of the country will result in cold, wet & windy conditions as there will be a Cut-off-Low over the western areas of the country, associated with a surface high over the southern areas. #saws pic.twitter.com/HTXWIC1plA

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 30, 2024