Cape town: The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that a series of cold fronts are expected to affect the Western Cape and Northern Cape from late Thursday into Sunday.

According to South African Government News Agency, the weather conditions will lead to very cold, windy, and wet conditions, with daytime temperatures plunging to 10°C and below, and winds reaching 30 km/h in places over the western and central interior of the Western Cape and the southern parts of the Namakwa District in Northern Cape. These conditions are likely to spread to the western escarpment of Namakwa as well as to the eastern interior of the Western Cape over the weekend. Additionally, light snowfalls are possible over the mountain peaks of the Western Cape and southern parts of Namakwa.

The public and small stock farmers are advised to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and health of their animals during these conditions. The western parts of the Western Cape will be hit by a series of cold fronts that will bring scattered to widespread showers and rain, from late Wednesday night into Sunday.

The most significant cold front will reach the south-western Cape by Friday afternoon, when quick and heavy downpours are possible. Rainfall accumulations of 20-35 mm are likely over the south-western parts, reaching 50 mm over the mountainous region. Although only 5-10 mm are expected on Saturday, another cold front making landfall early Sunday will likely bring 10-20 mm over the south-western Cape. The cumulative effect of rain-on-rain together with saturated soils will lead to minor impacts, with a low likelihood of significant impacts.

The weather service warned that the expected conditions will lead to flooding of roads, formal and informal settlements, which may result in damage to property and infrastructure, and pose a danger to life due to fast-flowing streams over low-lying bridges. Major disruption of traffic flow due to flooded and damaged roads could lead to increased travel time. Mudslides and rockfalls are also possible, and essential services such as water and electricity may be affected.