SAWS issues level 2 weather warning alert: Cold front, strong wind and heavy rains to hit the following areas tomorrow

Cape Town – South Africa is bracing for a severe cold front set to sweep across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape, bringing with it a cocktail of icy temperatures, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and treacherous sea conditions. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 2 weather warning, urging residents to take precautions and prepare for the impending weather onslaught.

The intense cold front is expected to make landfall over the south-western parts of South Africa on Wednesday, bringing a significant shift in weather conditions across the region, the South African Weather Service (Saws) said.

The Western Cape's western regions will be among the first hit, with sheets of rain expected from Wednesday evening into Thursday, 26 June. Flood-likely areas, particularly those with poor drainage, could see water levels rise rapidly.

Rudzani Malala, Head of SAWS, cautioned: "We're urging people in vulnerable areas to prepare now. Conditions could deteriorate quickly overnight into Thursday morning." Authorities are advising drivers to slow down, keep headlights on, and avoid unnecessary travel as roads become slick, and visibility drops.

According to Saws, the system is expected to result in heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas, on Wednesday and Thursday. “Wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures. Strong and gusty winds over the interior may cause localised damage to structures and uproot trees.”

Further inland, strong winds are forecast to whip through towns and open plains, bringing the risk of toppled trees, damaged roofs, and power outages.

"These gusts could cause significant structural damage. Residents should tie down anything that might blow away and steer clear of tall trees or unstable buildings," Malala said. Communities should prepare for sudden service interruptions and secure anything that could become a hazard in high winds.

Temperatures are expected to plunge, with freezing conditions settling in across large parts of both provinces. Snowfall is likely over the high-lying areas of the Western Cape's mountains and could stretch into parts of the Northern Cape. Bundle up: frostbite-inducing wind chills and icy roads may impact daily routines, particularly in elevated and rural areas.

Gale force wind and rough seas, with wave heights between 5.5m and 7.5m, along the coastlines of the Northern Cape and Western Cape will lead to disruptions to fishing and port operations, an increased risk of vessels capsizing, accidents at sea and hazardous shoreline conditions. Saws urged coastal residents and beachgoers to exercise caution.

"Sea conditions will be extremely dangerous. Fishermen, beachgoers, and coastal businesses should take this storm seriously and stay away from exposed areas," said Malala. Ports may face disruptions, and coastal infrastructure could be tested by the battering seas.

The storm's wrath won't stop at the Western provinces. By Thursday, the Eastern Cape will begin feeling the impact, with howling winds and a dramatic dip in temperatures sweeping across the region.

SAWS said that as the system progresses eastward it will affect the Eastern Cape, a region already vulnerable to weather-related impacts. The main concern is the strong, damaging wind expected across most parts of the province on Thursday. Interior wind is expected to pick up and spread over the rest of the eastern provinces on Thursday and Friday, with daytime temperatures dropping.

This comes as the Eastern Cape is still reeling from recent severe weather events that claimed more than 90 lives earlier this month.

Malala said the briefing “comes at a time when the country is still struggling to come to terms with the misfortune that befell the people of the Eastern Cape earlier this month, resulting in dozens of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of people”.

On Monday, the Eastern Cape provincial government confirmed that 95 bodies have been recovered across various districts. This includes two bodies of teenage males discovered on Sunday afternoon. Out of the recovered bodies, 86 have been identified and collected by their families and processes are under way for the identification of the remaining bodies.

“The integrated search and recovery teams were in the past week boosted by the presence of the South African Defence Force members who continued with the search, working tirelessly to locate and recover any possible remaining bodies. From today, the search and recovery teams will be joined by a team deployed from the North West provincial government, increasing the number of teams to four,” said Eastern Cape Acting Premier Mlungisi Mvoko.

Weather warnings in place are a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves from Wednesday evening, Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds on Wednesday, and Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall on Wednesday until Thursday morning.

City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan said that the City is preparing for the expected intense cold front. “The Disaster Risk Management Centre has alerted all relevant City departments and external partners to be on standby for potential impacts from the forecast,” she said.

“We ask that the public take heed of the warnings and do as much as possible to safeguard their properties during the forecast period, like waterproofing, clearing gutters and digging trenches to lead water away from their structures.”

SAWS will continue tracking the system and issuing updates. Residents are encouraged to follow official channels, check in on elderly neighbours, and stay indoors as conditions worsen.