Bring out winter woollies, cold front about to strike

SOUTH Africa is bracing for a powerful cold front, with rain, snow and strong winds expected in the Eastern Cape from today.

"The whole country will be affected by Friday," SA Weather Service (Saws) forecaster Vanetia Phakula said.

The cold front, coming in from the southwest, will hit the Western Cape early today and move into the Eastern Cape late in the afternoon. Temperatures in some places are expected to drop below freezing.

In Graaff-Reinet and Queenstown, the minimum temperature is expected to plummet to -3°C on Friday.

In Port Elizabeth, a minimum temperature of 10°C is expected and a maximum of 14°C. This will drop to a minimum of 8°C and a slightly higher maximum of 15°C on Friday.

Pierre Malherbe, from a farm just outside Cradock where temperatures near freezing are also expected, said he did not get worried until he saw "white grass on the fields".

"When there is ice in the grass, I start worrying about my sheep. They can handle a little cold, but below freezing worries me."

He said they were not expecting snow yet, but would keep the sheep a little closer to the house just in case.

"When it gets really cold we try to keep the animals in camps near the house, where we can feed and keep an eye on them. It's not like I can invite them inside to sit by the fire."

Saws's Garth Sampson said the approaching cold front would bring rough seas and light rain before the weekend. Winds of 40km/h or more were expected tomorrow.

"Strong northwesterly winds are also expected over the interior ahead of the oncoming system."

Sampson said light snowfalls were expected over the Sneeuberg mountains, between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg, with below freezing temperatures spreading through the adjacent high-lying areas and into the Drakensberg region by tomorrow.

The National Sea Rescue Institute has advised against any sailing trips as extreme sea conditions are expected along the western and southern Cape the next couple of days.

Swells of up to 9m are expected and coastal anglers are also warned to take extra caution.

Temperatures across the country are expected to pick up by Saturday. – Additional reporting by Roxanne Henderson