Icy-cold weather plus rains starting from today in the following towns and provinces: SAWS issues this week's weather warning

Cape Town – The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a stark warning: brace yourselves, South Africa, for a week of icy conditions, damaging waves, and strong winds. A cold snap is poised to grip the Western Cape and Northern Cape, while other provinces can expect a mixed bag of weather conditions.

Starting today, Wednesday, 18 June 2025, temperatures are set to plummet, with the chill lingering until the weekend. The Western Cape and Northern Cape are expected to bear the brunt of the cold, with daytime temperatures potentially dipping to a bone-chilling 10°C or lower in some areas.

SAWS forecaster Elani Heyneke said that Thursday is likely to be the coldest day. Capetonians will feel the effects of the cold temperatures, with Thursday dropping to 15°C, Paarl will see a high of 13°C, and Worcester will drop to 11°C. Ceres will drop to 11°C on Thursday, with Calvinia recording 11 on Wednesday and Friday. Sutherland will record 10°C on Wednesday and Friday, climbing to 11 on Thursday.

The weather service has issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay from Tuesday to Thursday. These conditions could make navigation at sea difficult. Additionally, a yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds is in place for Tuesday and Wednesday between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay.

In the SAWS' colour-coded warning system, yellow signifies a moderate risk, urging caution and awareness. Numbers indicate the likelihood of weather impacts, with levels 2 and 6 being high and level 4 being low.

The approaching cold front is expected to slip south of the country by Wednesday morning, ushering in cold daytime temperatures over the interior of the Western Cape and the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape. Another cold front is predicted to move south by Thursday evening, prolonging the cold spell through Saturday.

SAWS is particularly urging small-stock farmers and the general public to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their livestock.

Western Cape disaster management service head Colin Denier said his department is aware of the impending cold conditions. “We urge the public to take care, to heed any warnings from the provincial Disaster Management Centre and South African Weather Services, and to remain warm,” he added.

The weather service has also issued impact-based warnings for coastal regions. A yellow level 2 warning is in effect for damaging waves between Saldanha Bay and East London. This could lead to difficult navigation for small vessels, the risk of water intake, and localised disruption to beachfront activities.

A yellow level 1 warning has been issued for damaging winds between Cape Point and East London, potentially causing challenges for small vessels, including the risk of taking on water and dragging anchors.

The forecaster further advised that damaging waves are likely along the coastline, with a Level 2 warning in effect until Thursday night. Wave heights are expected to reach between 4.0 to 5.0 metres, escalating to 5.5 metres on Wednesday. The areas affected include the coast from Saldanha Bay to Plettenberg Bay, where strong westerly to south-westerly swells pose a significant risk to those navigating the seas. “Small vessel operators, including those using kayaks, may be at risk of taking on water or capsizing,” said the forecaster.

Rainfall probabilities for the region remain modest at around 30% along the southern coast, particularly near George and Cape Agulhas. Despite the limited precipitation, strong gusts and sea conditions are expected to be the dominant concern.

Here's a breakdown of what to expect in other provinces:

• Gauteng: Fine and cool weather. The UVB sunburn index is "high," so take precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
  • Pretoria: 5°C – 21°C
  • Johannesburg: 3°C – 20°C
  • Vereeniging: 2°C – 21°C
• Mpumalanga: Fine and cool to cold conditions, but warm in the Lowveld.
  • Mbombela: 9°C – 26°C
  • Ermelo: 5°C – 17°C
  • Emalahleni: 5°C – 20°C
  • Standerton: 4°C – 20°C
  • Skukuza: 12°C – 30°C
• Limpopo: Morning fog in the southwest, otherwise fine and cool to warm.
  • Polokwane: 8°C – 22°C
  • Phalaborwa: 13°C – 30°C
  • Tzaneen: 12°C – 25°C
  • Musina: 12°C – 27°C
  • Lephalale: 8°C – 24°C
  • Mokopane: 9°C – 23°C
• North West: Fine and cool weather.
  • Klerksdorp: 5°C – 20°C
  • Potchefstroom: 2°C – 20°C
  • Mahikeng: 5°C – 20°C
  • Rustenburg: 6°C – 23°C
  • Vryburg: 3°C – 21°C
• Free State: Morning fog in places in the west, otherwise fine and cool to cold. It will be windy in the extreme southeast.
  • Bloemfontein: 1°C – 18°C
  • Welkom: 4°C – 19°C
  • Bethlehem: -1°C – 17°C
• Northern Cape: Partly cloudy in the extreme west; otherwise, fine and cool to cold, but very cold in the southern high ground.
  • Upington: 4°C – 16°C
  • Kimberley: 3°C – 18°C
  • De Aar: 3°C – 13°C
  • Alexander Bay: 10°C – 21°C
  • Springbok: 4°C – 14°C
  • Calvinia: 2°C – 11°C
  • Sutherland: 0°C – 10°C
• Western Cape: Cloudy and cool to cold with isolated showers and rain, except in the northeast, where it will be partly cloudy.
  • Cape Town: 12°C – 16°C
  • Vredendal: 8°C – 17°C
  • Riversdale: 10°C – 16°C
  • George: 11°C – 15°C
  • Worcester: 10°C – 16°C
  • Beaufort West: 3°C – 15°C
  • Oudtshoorn: 6°C – 15°C
• Eastern Cape (western half): Cloudy in places along the coast with isolated showers and rain west of Port Elizabeth; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and cold but fine in the northeast, where morning frost is expected.
  • Gqeberha: 12°C – 18°C
  • Makhanda: 8°C – 15°C
  • Cradock: 1°C – 15°C
  • Graaff-Reinet: 2°C – 15°C
• Eastern Cape (eastern half): Fine and cold with morning frost in places in the north. It will be partly cloudy along the coast.
  • East London: 14°C – 20°C
  • Port St Johns: 15°C – 21°C
  • Mthatha: 8°C – 18°C
  • Komani: 4°C – 14°C
  • Qonce: 10°C – 17°C
• KwaZulu-Natal: Partly cloudy and cool weather with isolated showers and rain in the east. It will be warm in the northeast. The UVB sunburn index is "high," so take precautions against prolonged sun exposure.
  • Durban: 13°C – 21°C
  • Richards Bay: 12°C – 24°C
  • Pietermaritzburg: 7°C – 19°C
  • Ladysmith: -1°C – 21°C

Stay tuned for further updates from SAWS, and remember to take all necessary precautions to stay safe and warm during this bout of inclement weather.