Winter wallop, Zululand hit by icy weather

Cold start to Monday for City of uMhlathuze residents as temperatures drop to around 10°C

July 28, 2025

Tracey Turner 1 minute read

Cold snap in parts of Zululand on Monday morning

Many Zululanders opted to stay indoors this chilly weekend with the rain and icy winds.

According to the Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA), temperatures dropped to around 10°C at nearly all their monitoring stations on Monday morning (28 July).

Harbour West and the airport recorded 10.1°C, Arboretum 10.4°C, Brackenham and Felixton Met 10.8°C, the CBD 11.5°C, and eSikhaleni 11.9°C.

The temperature drop at RBCCA stations between Sunday and Monday (27 to 28 July)

Harbour West’s lowest temperature was recorded at 6.35am, while the airport’s station was recorded at 6.47am.

According to the SA Weather Service (SAWS), a yellow level two warning was issued for damaging winds on Sunday, 27 July from midnight until 8pm.

Winds with an average speed of 20 to 25KT (knots) gusting to 35 to 40KT blew from Sunday early morning until late afternoon.

The week ahead

SAWS expects Tuesday and Wednesday (29 and 30 July) to be fine and cold to cool in places.

AccuWeather forecasts the week will warm up slightly, with the highest temperature at 26°C on Thursday in Empangeni.

Data recorded at the RBCAA stations reveal the minimum temperatures highlighted in yellow on Monday morning (28 July)

However, from Friday, the temperatures will drop again in Empangeni, forecasting 18°C /13°C for Friday, and another cold weekend ahead with Saturday at 16°C /11°C and

Sunday 21°C /13°C; with Friday having 57% chance of rain and Saturday 60% chance of rain.

Richards Bay reflects similar temperatures, forecasting Saturday at 15°C/11°C and Sunday 19°C/14°C; with 60% chance of rain on Friday and 68% change of rain on Saturday.

However, Sunday appears to have mainly clear skies and no rain for the City.

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