Cape provinces brace for frigid, wet and conditions as cut-off low arrives

Winter has come with frigid, wet, and windy conditions for the Eastern and Western Cape as an intense cut-off low (COL) arrives from Wednesday into Thursday. The South African Weather Service (Saws) is monitoring a cut-off low-pressure system, which is expected to result in widespread cold, wet, and windy conditions over the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and adjacent interior regions from Wednesday into Thursday. Saws said on Monday that rainfall associated with the COL is expected over the Garden Route District of the Western Cape and extends into the central and western parts of the Eastern Cape.

Most of these areas are still recovering from the impacts of the previous cut-off low system. The rainfall may lead to localised or significant flooding in susceptible areas, including roads, bridges, low-lying settlements, and river crossings. Fast-flowing streams and rivers may pose a danger to life, while major transport routes could be affected by flooding and poor visibility.

The weather service added that the weather system is expected to cause a significant drop in daytime temperatures across affected regions. There is also a possibility of light snowfall over higher-lying terrain over the Cape provinces, including the interior of the Eastern Cape, the southern parts of the Northern Cape, and the north-eastern high ground of the Western Cape. “While the current modelled expectation of accumulated depth of snowfall suggests only ‘light snowfalls’, travellers and communities in mountainous areas are nevertheless advised to remain informed of forecast updates issued by the Saws, as conditions may change when fresh output from NWP weather models becomes available,” the weather service said.

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Further, strong winds and rough sea conditions are expected along the south-western and southern coastline of the Western Cape. These conditions may make navigation at sea difficult, particularly for small vessels and personal watercraft. Weather forecast for today & tomorrow, 1 -2 June 2026.

Partly cloudy & cool conditions are expected in the east and parts in the west otherwise fine & cool to warm, but isolated to scattered rain and showers along the south coast and adjacent interior#saws#weatheroutlookpic.twitter.com/QXC7DI3PU5 Meanwhile, the weather service has released its latest weather forecast for Tuesday, 2 June 2026. The South African Weather Service has issued an orange level 8 warning for disruptive rain, leading to danger to life, widespread flooding, displacement of settlements, and mudslides. This is expected in places along the coast and adjacent interior between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape on Wednesday and Thursday.

Saws has warned of disruptive rain leading to danger to life, flooding and displacements of settlements, as well as mudslides, which are expected in places along the coast and adjacent interior between Plettenberg Bay and East London in the Western and Eastern Cape on Wednesday and Thursday. An orange level 5 warning was issued.

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