Cold Front Hits Gauteng: Emergency Services Brace for Icy Weather

A powerful cold front will sweep across Gauteng and several other South African provinces this week.This prompts emergency services to prepare for icy conditions and related hazards. Residents should heed weather warnings. Furthermore, they should take necessary precautions as temperatures plunge and severe weather impacts unfold.

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Gauteng on High Alert

From Wednesday, May 21, Gauteng will experience a significant cold snap as temperatures drop sharply. Johannesburg is forecast to see lows around 2°C and highs near 13°C. Meanwhile, Pretoria will experience a minimum of 4°C and a high of 15°C. This marks the first cold front of winter 2025 in the province. Therefore, Johannesburg Emergency Services will place all 29 fire stations on high alert to respond swiftly to any emergencies.

Officials warn that the cold weather will lead many residents to increase the use of heating devices. These include heaters, paraffin stoves, braziers (imbawula), and candles. Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi urged caution. He emphasized safe use to prevent fire incidents: “Do not leave heating devices unattended. Keep candles out of reach of children, and avoid illegal electrical connections”. Emergency Services advise residents to report emergencies immediately via the Emergency Services Call Centre. You can call 112 from any cell phone in South Africa. You will then reach a call centre and they will route you to an emergency service closest to you.

Weather Warnings Across Provinces

The cold front will extend beyond Gauteng and will make landfall over the southwestern parts of the country on Monday, May 19.

This will bring wet, cold, and windy conditions to the Western Cape. This front will then move eastward, affecting the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and parts of the interior through midweek.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several warnings:

• Yellow Level 4 Warning for Damaging Winds and Waves on Thursday, especially along the Western Cape coast. Gale-force north-westerly to westerly winds are expected in the Namakwa District and Central Karoo on Tuesday.
• Yellow Level 2 Warning for Severe Thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail, and lightning. This will affect eastern parts of the Eastern Cape, south of the escarpment.
• Extremely High Fire Danger conditions are forecast in central and southern Northern Cape. Additionally, extreme southern Free State, northeastern Western Cape, and western Eastern Cape are affected.
• Possible Snowfall over high-lying areas of the Eastern and Western Cape, as well as Lesotho, from Tuesday onwards. This is due to dropping freezing levels.
• Localised Flooding Risks in low-lying and poorly drained areas. This comes from persistent rain, especially in mountainous regions where rainfall may reach up to 50 mm.

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Provincial Weather Summaries

• Gauteng: Partly cloudy and warm on Monday with isolated afternoon thundershowers; temperatures will drop significantly from Wednesday.
• Western Cape: Wet, cold, and windy conditions starting Monday, escalating with strong winds and rough seas into midweek.
• Northern Cape: Warm and partly cloudy on Monday. Conditions shift to windy and rainy from Tuesday, with fire danger warnings in some areas.
• Eastern Cape: Isolated showers and thunderstorms expected, with severe weather alerts for damaging winds and hail in some eastern parts.
• Other provinces (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State): Warm to hot with isolated showers and thundershowers. Fog patches are expected in some areas in the mornings.

Safety and Preparedness

Emergency services across Gauteng and other affected provinces are on high alert, monitoring weather developments closely. Residents should:

• Use heating devices safely and never leave them unattended.
• Keep children away from open flames and heating equipment.
• Avoid illegal electrical connections to prevent fires and electrocution.
• Prepare for possible travel delays due to strong winds and fallen trees, especially on major routes like the N1.
• Stay informed through official channels such as the South African Weather Service social media platforms and local emergency services.

This cold front marks the beginning of winter’s harsher conditions in South Africa, demanding vigilance and preparedness from communities nationwide.