Two successive cold fronts are expected to move in over the Western Cape, starting on Thursday (20 May 2021) resulting in rainy, cold and windy conditions as the weather system propagates eastwards over the southern parts of the country.

A secondary cold front will make landfall during today (Friday, May 21) causing rainfall and light snowfall to persist over the Western Cape.

Hannelee Doubell of the South African Weather Services said the cold conditions will start to invade the central parts of the country during Friday with maximum temperatures dropping significantly to the mid-teens.

These conditions are expected to reach KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng during Saturday and Sunday.

Small stock farmers are advised that the combination of cold, wet and windy weather may result in stock losses, unless animals are taken to shelter, well ahead of the onset of the winter weather.

Minimum temperatures are expected to drop significantly over the central, western and southern interior of the country from Saturday morning (May 22) with morning frost possible in places.

Coastal ocean users should also exercise caution as large swells of 4.5m to 6m associated with the secondary frontal system may be experienced between Cape Columbine and East London from Thursday afternoon into Friday.

Vessels may experience difficulty in navigation, and risk is increased for coastal activities.

NSRI encourages ocean users to check the weather

NSRI encourages boaters, paddlers, sailboarders, anglers, fishermen and coastal hikers to always check SA Weather Services weather alerts when preparing to go into and around the ocean.

Craig Lambinon, spokesman of NSRI, said the approaching winter weather has seen a number of cold fronts over the past few weeks and a cold front is currently causing rough seas and strong winds from the Western Cape coastline all the way around the coastline to beyond Port Alfred.

Caution is always advised during adverse weather conditions but preparations before you embark on coastal journeys should always include checking in on the SA Weather Services anticipated weather conditions and prepare accordingly with extra caution when adverse weather is expected.

***Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherServic Compiled by Wayne Venter and Kate Turner. Edited by Kevin Rae. For technical and weather enquiries: National Forecasting Centre: 012 367 6041.

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