Snow hunters across South Africa are on high alert as weather models indicate more than 50cm of snow could blanket parts of the country in the coming days, making this one of the most widespread winter events in years.

A powerful cold front will strike the Western Cape early Saturday, spreading bitterly cold, wet and windy weather across the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and beyond — with snow expected in eight of the nine provinces, including parts of Pretoria and the southern Highveld of Gauteng by Monday, depending on model shifts.

According to Vox Weather’s Michelle du Plessis, the system will intensify as it develops into a cut-off low, dragging freezing levels lower and setting the stage for heavy snow over mountain ranges, including the Drakensberg, Southern Lesotho, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where the deepest accumulations are expected.

With social media already buzzing among snow hunters eager to witness the event, forecasters warn that travel conditions could become hazardous, especially on mountain passes and rural roads.

Authorities urge South Africans to prepare for widespread frost, strong winds, and icy conditions into next week, and to closely monitor updates as forecasts continue to evolve.

Here is where you will find snow:

In the Western Cape:

• Matroosberg,
• Cederberg,
• Swartberg

In the Northern Cape:

• Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountain
• including the town of Sutherland,
• the Great Karoo

The high-lying areas in the Cape provinces:

• around Fraserburg,
• Loxton,
• Murraysburg,
• Richmond,
• Noupoort,
• Colesberg,
• Burgersdorp,
• Aliwal North,
• Molteno and surroundings.

Lesotho could experience snow depths exceeding 50cm on Monday, particularly around Afri Ski, and in the Eastern Cape may expect between 50cm of snow over the southern Drakensberg and nearby towns. Including Barkly East.

A mixture of snow/ ice rain and sleet is now possible over southern and eastern Free State:

• Bethlehem,
• Warden,
• Heilbron,
• Reitz,
• Memel,
• Reddersburg,
• Trompsburg and surrounding towns.

It includes north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, around Postmasburg and Kuruman.

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for damaging coastal winds from Saldanha Bay to Cape Agulhas, and icy road conditions are expected across several interior districts, especially around Beaufort West.

With snowfall already likely over Lesotho and nearby areas by Sunday and heavier falls predicted through next week, South Africans are advised to monitor updates closely and prepare for travel disruptions, icy roads, and sudden temperature drops.

Also read: Snow expected in Gauteng next week

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