A severe cold front is set to sweep across South Africa this weekend, bringing plummeting temperatures, heavy rain, strong winds, and even snowfall in several provinces. Lehlohonolo Thobela, a weather forecaster, has advised residents to prepare for severe winter weather, with disruptive snowfall anticipated in the Eastern Cape and other high-lying regions. Weekend Weather Warnings On Saturday, the cold front will make landfall, beginning in the Western Cape and moving eastward.

By Sunday, temperatures are expected to drop significantly, with snowfall predicted in the high-altitude regions of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape. “Winter is here,” Thobela confirmed during a live broadcast. "The cold front will bring snow, strong winds, and rain, especially in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Drakensberg Mountains." Disruptive Snow and Frost Expected The most severe conditions are forecast for Monday, with disruptive snowfall likely in the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Frost is also expected in parts of the Free State and the North West, putting crops and livestock at risk.

• Sunday: Light snow begins in the Western and Northern Cape, spreading to the Eastern Cape by evening. • Heavy, disruptive snowfall in the Drakensberg and Eastern Cape on Monday. • Tuesday: Conditions ease slightly, but cold weather persists before temperatures rise midweek. Effects on the Allied Marathon The cold snap coincides with the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, where thousands of runners will trek from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Thobela said that the race will start with clear skies, but she said that runners might get wet and have cold winds as they get closer to Durban in the afternoon.