As winter gradually wanes across South Africa, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecasts cold and wet conditions sweeping through many regions, driven by a cut-off low-pressure system traversing the eastern and central parts of the country. Excitingly, a rare phenomenon known as thundersnow may grace certain communities on the night of Wednesday, 6 August 2025, offering a captivating spectacle for those fortunate enough to witness it.
SAWS explains that South Africa is currently experiencing a cut-off low, described as “a detached cold air system lingering over the region,” which is bringing cloudy and chilly weather to the central and eastern provinces.
Consequently, scattered showers and thundershowers are set to affect several areas, creating a patchwork of precipitation. Moreover, snowfall is expected to dust the escarpments of the Eastern Cape and Lesotho, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland for those at higher elevations.
The affected towns, according to SAWS, include:
- Gauteng: Johannesburg, Pretoria
- Free State: Bloemfontein, Welkom
- Mpumalanga: Mbombela, Witbank
- North West: Rustenburg, Klerksdorp
- KwaZulu-Natal: Durban, Pietermaritzburg
- Eastern Cape: Mthatha, East London
- Lesotho: Maseru, Teyateyaneng
Furthermore, the South West Indian Ocean Climate and Weather Service Agency (SWAICSA) issued an update on Wednesday morning, 6 August 2025, confirming that cold temperatures will unfold across most of South Africa.
Very cold conditions are forecast to settle in the south-western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the northern interior of the Eastern Cape, the southern Northern Cape, and the southern Free State. Meanwhile, SWAICSA notes that maximum temperatures in these regions may drop below 10°C, yet warmer conditions are emerging in Limpopo and north-eastern Mpumalanga, highlighting South Africa’s diverse climate.
This contrast, SWAICSA explains, reflects atmospheric conditions at 5,500 metres above sea level (500 hPa), with the cut-off low positioned over the central interior, moving north-east and expected to exit by Friday, 8 August 2025. The colder towns affected include:
- KwaZulu-Natal: Kokstad, Underberg
- Eastern Cape: Queenstown, Aliwal North
- Northern Cape: Upington, De Aar
- Free State: Bethlehem, Ficksburg
Transitioning to the broader outlook, severe thunderstorms are anticipated to develop on Thursday, 7 August 2025, as the cut-off low progresses.
SAWS suggests these storms could affect the eastern Northern Cape, northern Eastern Cape, southern North West, and north-western KwaZulu-Natal, possibly extending to Gauteng, western Mpumalanga, western Limpopo, and southern Limpopo.
Additionally, snow is possible on Wednesday across the interior Eastern Cape, north-eastern Northern Cape, western North West, and western Free State, with precipitation potentially spreading to the central and eastern Free State and even Gauteng overnight into Thursday morning—a rare event that could reshape local landscapes.
SAWS’s weather map supports these predictions, marking zones as “Cool” and “Cold” with wind speed indicators (e.g., 10, 20, 30) to track the cold front’s movement. Affected towns include:
- Eastern Northern Cape: Springbok, Calvinia
- Northern Eastern Cape: Barkly East, Rhodes
- Southern North West: Mahikeng, Zeerust
- North-western KwaZulu-Natal: Vryheid, Dundee
- Gauteng: Pretoria, Soweto, Sandton, Benoni
- Western Mpumalanga: Nelspruit, Middelburg
- Western Limpopo: Polokwane, Louis Trichardt
- Southern Limpopo: Thohoyandou, Giyani
- Interior Eastern Cape: Graaff-Reinet, Cradock
- North-eastern Northern Cape: Kimberley, Kuruman
- Western North West: Mafikeng, Lichtenburg
- Western Free State: Kroonstad, Parys
- Central and Eastern Free State: Ladybrand, Harrismith
Moreover, SWAICSA issued an alert for Wednesday, 6 August 2025, warning of the possibility of thundersnow over parts of the Free State during the late night and early hours of Thursday morning.
Defined as “snowfall accompanied by lightning and thunder,” thundersnow is a rare sight in South Africa, potentially featuring light snow with thunder. However, SWAICSA cautions that this remains a low-probability event, urging residents to treat it as a heads-up rather than a certainty, given its scarcity. Those in towns like Bloemfontein, Welkom, Bethlehem, and Kroonstad are encouraged to share reports and photos if this phenomenon occurs, though forecasts may shift. Image credit for this update goes to Windy.
Looking ahead, widespread frost is expected to blanket South Africa’s interior on Thursday morning, 7 August 2025, reaching into central and southern Namibia and south-western Botswana, with frost possibly lingering into Saturday morning, 9 August 2025, according to SAWS.
Furthermore, another cut-off low is forecast to form south-west of Cape Town from Friday, 8 August, to Saturday, 9 August 2025, bringing severe storms that will track east-south of the country.
From Saturday to Sunday, 10 August 2025, scattered showers are expected in the west and south-west, accompanied by strong winds across western, central, and southern South Africa on Saturday, continuing along the south coast on Sunday.
As this dynamic weather event unfolds, residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and keep abreast of updates from SAWS and SWAICSA. The potential for thundersnow, combined with widespread frost and severe storms, underscores
To see what the weather will be in your area, click here.
