SA Weather Service debunks ‘Aphelion’ cold spell hoax
A viral message predicting a nationwide deep freeze due to 'Aphelion' is false, with the SAWS forecasting above-normal temperatures for most of the country this winter.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has moved to dispel a widely circulating hoax message claiming a countrywide cold spell until August, attributing it to a phenomenon called ‘Aphelion’. SAWS emphatically states that this claim is false and misleading.
Read more: Wet weather, bad roads – heres how to stay safe
In clarifying the matter, SAWS explains that ‘Aphelion’ is indeed the point in Earth’s orbit when it is farthest from the Sun. While this astronomical event is expected to occur on July 3 at 15:54 PM, SAWS stresses that this distance variation has no significant impact on temperatures or seasons in South Africa. The nation’s seasons are determined by the Earth’s axial tilt, not its distance from the Sun.
SAWS urges the public to refrain from circulating this inaccurate information. According to their seasonal climate watch, issued on May 2, both minimum and maximum temperatures are anticipated to be above normal for the majority of the country during the winter season. This means that temperatures are expected to be warmer than typically experienced during South African winters.
Also read: Get a grip on your vehicles wet-weather readiness
While warmer conditions are generally forecast, SAWS acknowledges that the Republic of South Africa will still be influenced by various winter weather systems known to cause temperature drops, such as cold fronts and cut-off lows. Furthermore, the southern coastal regions are specifically predicted to experience below-normal temperatures for the remainder of the winter period.
Addressing another climate factor, SAWS confirms that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has returned to a neutral state and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. It is important to note, SAWS adds, that ENSO has limited influence on South Africa during the winter season and is not anticipated to have a significant impact.
However, as winter commences, the focus for rainfall is primarily on the south-western parts of the country, as well as along the east and south coastal regions. These areas are expected to receive below-normal rainfall during the early, mid, and late winter periods.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
Related article: City Power battles surge in outages as severe weather takes its toll
