Winter is coming! Western Cape to get its first snow of 2021 ‘this week’

These forecasts don’t half get us giddy. We love to see the snow fall when winter is around the corner, and last month, we saw a number of decent flurries make landfall in South Africa. However, the Western Cape has been left waiting for the white stuff to make its first appearance in the province since the turn of the year – and hope is now on the horizon.

Cape Town cold front set for Thursday 20 May

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is warning of a particularly miserable end to the week, with rain, blustery winds, and unsettled seas that will bring two more cold fronts to the Cape, within DAYS of each other. The following weather warnings, advisories, and general messages of caution have been published on Tuesday

• – Two successive cold fronts are expected to move in over the Western Cape, starting on Thursday 20 May.
• – Yellow Level 2 Weather Warnings are in place for Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, and Overberg
• – High wind alerts have been issued for the Northern Cape, Karoo, Lamberts Bay, Cape Agulhas, and Plettenberg Bay.
• – Sea swells of 4.5, to 6.0m may be experienced between Cape Columbine and East London from Thursday
• – Winds of 50-70km/h are set for the Northern Cape, the interior of the Western Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape.

Media Release: Cold snap expected over parts of the country this weekend (20-23 May 2021). pic.twitter.com/JchB49uUbf

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) May 18, 2021

Western Cape weather – when will the snow fall?

The forecast snow, meanwhile, is on course to give high peaks like Matroosberg and Cederberg a fairly respectable covering. This is set to take place on Friday, as temperatures plummet in the Western Cape. The cold front will then make its way across the country, eventually bringing chilly conditions to the north-east:

“The second cold front will make landfall during Friday, causing rainfall and light snowfall to persist over the Western Cape. Cold conditions will start to invade the central parts of the country, with maximum temperatures dropping significantly to the mid-teens. These conditions are will reach Mpumalanga, and Gauteng during Saturday and Sunday.”

“Small stock farmers are advised that the combination of cold, wet and windy weather may result in stock losses, unless animals are taken to shelter. Minimum temperatures are expected to drop significantly over the central, western, and southern interior of the country from Saturday morning with morning frost possible in places.”