Snow and Heavy Rain Batter South Africa: 7 Weather Warnings Issued

South Africa is bracing itself for a harsh winter as seven weather warnings have been issued for snow and heavy rain across nine provinces. The storm is expected to cause widespread disruption. The country is preparing for a cold snap, with most provinces expected to experience cool conditions.

Gauteng, the smallest of South Africa's nine provinces, with an area of 18,178 km2, is expected to experience fine weather in the morning but partly cloudy and cool conditions later in the day. Mpumalanga, the second smallest province with an area of 76,495 km2, will be partly cloudy and cool, but warm in the Lowveld.

Limpopo will experience partly cloudy and cool conditions, but fine weather in the northern parts. The Northern Cape, the largest province, with an area of 372,889 km2, can expect morning fog along the coast and adjacent interior, with partly cloudy and windy conditions in the rest of the region.

The Free State will be partly cloudy and cold to cool, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the west. The North West will experience partly cloudy and cool conditions, with isolated showers and thunder-showers in the south-west.

The Western Cape will see morning fog patches in the extreme north-western parts, with cloudy and windy conditions in places. The KwaZulu-Natal province will be partly cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and thunder-showers.

The Eastern Cape will be partly cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and thunder-showers. The Western Cape will see cloudy and windy conditions, with isolated showers and thunder-showers.

The Eastern Cape will be partly cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and thunder-showers. The North West province will experience partly cloudy and cool conditions, with isolated showers and thunder-showers in the south-west.

The Northern Cape can expect partly cloudy and windy conditions, with isolated showers and thunder-showers. The provinces have been placed on high alert due to the severe weather warnings.

A pull quote from the weather service: 'A low-pressure system will move southwards across the country, bringing snow and heavy rain to several provinces.'