South Africa’s mountain regions are enjoying a much-needed break from severe winter weather, with no fresh snowfall forecast for Friday, 31 July after a week of disruptive rain, snow and strong winds.
The latest forecast from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) shows a far calmer picture across the country, with the cut-off low pressure system responsible for this week’s Orange Level 5 and Orange Level 6 warnings having moved away.
Only one weather warning remains
As of Friday, the only active weather warning nationwide is a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds and waves between KwaDukuza and Kosi Bay along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
An extremely high fire danger warning has also been issued for the Matzikama Municipality in the Western Cape.
Elsewhere, conditions are expected to remain mostly fine and cool.
Gauteng will see a partly cloudy morning in the north before clearing, with cool temperatures and morning frost in places.
The Free State and Western Cape are forecast to be fine to partly cloudy, with patches of morning fog over the north-eastern parts of the Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal will remain cool to cold, with isolated showers along the coast and adjacent interior, while fresh south-westerly winds continue along parts of the coastline.
Mountain regions remain under watch
Although no fresh snow is expected today, South Africa’s highest peaks remain under close observation as winter enters its final stretch.
The Maloti-Drakensberg range and Lesotho’s Afriski Mountain Resort continue to be the country’s most likely areas for snowfall whenever the next cold front approaches.
This week’s snow event, which prompted high-level SAWS warnings across parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, served as another reminder of how quickly conditions can deteriorate in the country’s mountain regions.
Motorists planning to travel through the Drakensberg or across high-altitude mountain passes this weekend are encouraged to monitor local weather forecasts and road conditions before setting off, even though conditions have improved significantly.
For now, however, South Africa’s mountain regions appear set for a quieter end to the week as forecasters keep a close eye on the next potential winter weather system.
