The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the first week of June will bring about bitterly cold and windy conditions for parts of the country.
While Monday and Tuesday are expected to be partly cloudy and cold, light snow conditions and rainfall are expected over the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, as well as the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape, from Wednesday.
The weather service warned that travel over mountain passes could be difficult, while strong winds and cold weather may disrupt outdoor activities. A Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for damaging winds and waves between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay for Wednesday and Thursday.
An Orange Level 5 warning and a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain have also been issued for the Garden Route region of the Western Cape.
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The Western Cape was recently battered by a severe winter storm system that struck the province during the second week of May 2026. The storm, driven by powerful cold fronts and an upper-air cut-off low pressure system, brought torrential rainfall, gale-force winds exceeding 100 km/h in some areas, flooding, rough seas, and widespread infrastructure damage across Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, the Garden Route, and several surrounding regions. The South African Weather Service issued high-level weather warnings as conditions rapidly deteriorated across the province.
Provincial disaster management authorities reported that more than 83,000 people were affected across the Western Cape, with over 21,500 homes and structures sustaining damage. Informal settlements were among the hardest-hit areas, with flooding reported in at least 26 communities across the Cape Metro. Thousands of residents were displaced after homes were flooded, roofs were blown off, and access routes became impassable. Emergency relief organisations and government agencies were deployed to provide humanitarian assistance, shelter, food, and essential supplies to affected communities.
The storm also caused significant damage to public infrastructure and transport networks. Several major roads, including sections of the N1 corridor through the Cape Winelands, were closed due to flooding, mudslides, and structural damage. Key mountain passes such as Du Toitskloof and Bainskloof were temporarily shut, while some towns were cut off from surrounding areas. Schools across the province were forced to close for a day as authorities prioritised public safety and assessed damage to facilities.
Tragically, multiple fatalities were linked to the severe weather conditions, while many more residents suffered injuries and property losses. The scale of the disaster prompted the national government to declare a national disaster, enabling emergency funding and coordinated relief efforts across affected provinces. Experts have warned that extreme weather events of this nature are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, highlighting the growing challenges posed by climate change and the vulnerability of communities living in flood-prone areas.
