Disaster management teams in KwaZulu-Natal have been placed on high alert as a formidable cold front approaches the province and the nation at large.
This development follows a statement from the KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), confirming that disaster management teams are monitoring an imminent cold front set to impact various regions of the country.
According to KZN CoGTA, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has indicated that two successive cold fronts will usher in challenging weather conditions across extensive areas, with notably cooler temperatures expected. The department highlighted that high-lying regions of KwaZulu-Natal may experience snowfall on Wednesday as a consequence.
Taking a closer look at the forthcoming weather conditions, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) elaborated that two cold frontal systems are anticipated to develop from Monday, 19 May 2025, to Friday, 23 May 2025, with a high probability of disrupting the current rainless and mild to warm weather that has prevailed recently.
Moreover, SAWS noted that the initial cold front will make landfall over the south-western parts of the country on Monday, 19 May 2025, resulting in wet, cold, and windy conditions across the Western Cape.
Although this system is not expected to be severe, it serves as a precursor to a more significant weather event anticipated the following day.
On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, these conditions will propagate eastward, affecting the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. This progression will stem from a robust cold front, leading to isolated, scattered showers and rainfall accumulations of 15 to 25 mm, with potential peaks of 30 to 50 mm in mountainous regions.
In addition, tempretures are projected to plummet, with conditions conducive to snowfall in high-lying areas. These frigid conditions are expected to extend to the central and eastern parts of the country from late Tuesday evening, persisting until Friday morning, 23 May 2025.
Furthermore, with two cold fronts poised to affect South Africa and KZN, SAWS issued an additional weather warning for KZN on Monday, aligning with KZN CoGTA’s decision to heighten disaster management preparedness.
According to SAWS, from Wednesday, KZN residents can anticipate partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated showers and rain in the southern and eastern parts.
Light snowfall is also forecast over the south-western mountains on Wednesday morning, accompanied by cold conditions across the central and western regions on both Wednesday and Thursday. These conditions will be compounded by damaging winds, with SAWS noting that KZN may experience these weather patterns until Sunday, 25 May 2025.
Adding to this, the South African Weather Service identified that the following towns will be hit by damaging winds on Wednesday, 21 May 2025:
- Newcastle
- Dundee
- Utrecht
- Paulpietersburg
- Underberg
- Dannhauser
- Ladysmith
- Estcourt
- Richards Bay
- Scottburgh
- Kokstad
Moreover, the weather service warned that these winds may cause disruptions to roads, due to crosswinds and fallen objects. With the impending weather, SAWS has stressed it will continue to monitor any further developments relating to the weather systems and will issue subsequent updates as required.
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