The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for a spell of extreme winter weather starting this weekend, saying snow could fall in all provinces except Limpopo, along with damaging winds, thunderstorms, and bitter cold.

“This will be a particularly intense system,” SAWS said in a media statement released Thursday, June 5. “The severe weather is expected to persist over the country until at least the middle of next week, especially in the eastern provinces.”

The storm system, known as a Cut-Off Low (COL), will first hit the Western and Northern Cape early Saturday morning, 7 June. By Monday and Tuesday (9–10 June), it is expected to spread across central and eastern provinces.

Key impacts include:

• Snowfall across most provinces, with disruptions expected over mountain passes, especially Van Reenen’s Pass on the N3.
• Strong, damaging winds over interior provinces from Sunday, raising the risk of wildfires ahead of the cold front.
• Heavy coastal rains leading to localised flooding in parts of the Eastern Cape on Sunday, and southern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.
• Near-gale force winds and rough seas, starting Friday along the south-west coast, reaching the east coast by Saturday.
• Bitterly cold conditions, with maximum temperatures not expected to go above 10°C in many areas. Winds will make it feel even colder.

Severe thunderstorms, possibly with hail and damaging winds, are also likely in North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday and Tuesday.

Farmers have been urged to take precautions. “Farmers of small stock are strongly advised to implement appropriate measures to prevent stock losses due to exposure to bitter cold and wind,” SAWS said.

Comrades Marathon to Escape Worst Weather—But Only Just Good news for runners: the Comrades Marathon, set for Sunday, 8 June from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, will take place in mostly mild to warm and windy weather. But conditions may change later in the day.

“Runners should be aware of a cool change in the weather, later in the day,” SAWS cautioned. A cold front and coastal low are expected to move up the KwaZulu-Natal coast on Sunday afternoon, bringing showers or thunderstorms, particularly over the Drakensberg, spreading toward the coast by evening.

Light Snow in Gauteng?

There is a small chance of light snow in Gauteng and Mpumalanga’s highveld on Monday night or early Tuesday, though forecasters remain uncertain.

“At this stage there is significant uncertainty amongst the various numeric weather prediction models in this regard,” SAWS noted.

The weather service said it would continue to monitor the system closely and urged the public to stay informed through official channels.