Cold front to hit Gauteng this week; Johannesburg may reach freezing

Gauteng residents are being warned to prepare for a cold front expected this week, with parts of the province forecast to reach freezing temperatures.

What the forecast says

Johannesburg is forecast to hit 0°C on Friday, with a daytime high of 14°C. Pretoria is forecast to drop to 2°C, with a high of 15°C.

Official alerts and timing

“Breaking: early forecast suggests cold snap in Gauteng from Thursday,”

said Gauteng Weather in a post on social media.

The South African Weather Service (Saws) has also warned of very cold, wet and windy conditions for parts of the country from Wednesday, 03 June to Thursday, 04 June. Saws specified the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape. The service also expects cloudy conditions with fog patches in several provinces.

Safety and emergency response

As temperatures fall, emergency services in Gauteng are reported to be on high alert. Residents have been urged to take care when using heating appliances.

Authorities warned that the increased use of heaters, braziers, paraffin stoves and candles can raise the risk of home fires and advised that these devices should not be left unattended.

For life-threatening emergencies, residents were told to call the Emergency Services Call Centre on 011 375 5911.

Practical takeaways

• Prepare warm clothing and bedding ahead of the anticipated cold snap.
• Use heating devices with caution and never leave them unattended.
• Keep the emergency number 011 375 5911 handy for life-threatening situations.