Here’s a comprehensive outlook on the South Africa weather forecast for today (Tuesday, 20 May 2025).
What’s the weather in South Africa today? – Warnings and advisories for Tuesday, 20 May 2025
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued the following weather warnings for Tuesday, 20 May 2025:
- Yellow Level 2 Warning for Damaging Winds and Waves: Expected between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay, leading to difficulty in navigation at sea and localised disruptions to small harbours and ports.
- Yellow Level 2 Warning for Disruptive Rainfall: Anticipated over the Cape Winelands, Cape Metropole, West Coast, and western parts of the Overberg Districts in the Western Cape, potentially causing localised flooding of susceptible formal and informal settlements, roads, low-lying areas, and bridges.
- Yellow Level 2 Warning for Damaging Interior Winds: Forecasted over the Northern Cape (excluding the northwest and extreme northern parts), northern parts of the Western Cape, central and northern parts of the Eastern Cape, western Free State, and southwestern parts of the North West Province. These conditions may result in longer travel times, issues for high-sided vehicles on prone routes, localised damage to informal and formal settlements, and communication/power disruptions.
- Fire Danger Warnings: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Beaufort West Municipality of the Western Cape, Thembelihle Municipality of the Northern Cape, and the extreme northwestern parts of the Free State.
- Advisories: Wet, windy, and cold to very cold conditions are expected over western high-lying areas of the Western Cape and southern parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, with a possibility of light snow along the high-lying mountain tops of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape up to Lesotho until Wednesday. Farmers and small stock farmers are advised to provide proper shelter, dry bedding, and energy-rich feed to protect their animals against these conditions.
Intense cold fronts to impact South Africa from Tuesday to Wednesday
SAWS has issued a weather advisory for an intense cold front expected to sweep across parts of South Africa between Tuesday, 20 May and Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
This weather system is associated with a steep upper-air trough and a strong ridging high-pressure system, signalling the onset of significantly colder and stormier conditions in several regions.
Key Impacts Expected:
- Sharp Temperature Drops: A noticeable decline in daytime temperatures is expected, especially across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and high-lying areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Heavy Rainfall: Persistent showers are forecast, with a risk of localised flooding, particularly in low-lying and poorly drained urban areas.
- Snowfall: Light snowfall is possible over the higher terrain in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal — a rare but serious concern for exposed infrastructure and livestock.
- Strong Winds: Gale-force winds of up to 65 km/h may develop inland and along the coastline, increasing the risk of structural damage, uprooted trees, and travel disruptions.
- Rough Seas: Marine conditions are forecast to deteriorate, with abnormal waves posing a threat to small vessels and coastal activities, especially between Alexander Bay and Port Edward.
“Cold fronts of this nature can be particularly disruptive, especially when accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds,” the service stated.
“It is important that residents take warnings seriously and prepare accordingly. While cold fronts are part of the natural weather cycle, preparedness can significantly reduce the risks they pose. We urge the public to act early rather than wait for conditions to worsen.”
Cape Town, Durban and JHB weather forecast: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Cape Town weather
| Temperature (°C) | Condition | Precipitation (%) | Wind Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 / 13 | Light Rain | 75 | 29 |
Durban weather
| Temperature (°C) | Condition | Precipitation (%) | Wind Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 / 17 | Cloudy | 0 | 8 |
Johannesburg weather
| Temperature (°C) | Condition | Precipitation (%) | Wind Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 / 10 | Mostly Sunny | 0 | 10 |
What’s the weather today? – Provincial forecast for Tuesday, 20 May 2025
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- Gauteng: Partly cloudy.
- Pretoria: 12/22°C
- Johannesburg: 10/20°C
- Vereeniging: 7/22°C
- Mpumalanga: Partly cloudy.
- Mbombela: 13/27°C
- Limpopo: Morning fog, then fine.
- Polokwane: 12/25°C
- North West: Fine and windy, isolated afternoon showers.
- Mahikeng: 9/24°C
- Vryburg: 8/25°C
- Free State: Windy with isolated thundershowers.
- Bloemfontein: 8/23°C
- Northern Cape: Windy with isolated showers.
- Kimberley: 11/24°C
- Upington: 14/22°C
- Western Cape: Cloudy with rain.
- Cape Town: 13/15°C
- George: 14/24°C
- Eastern Cape: Partly cloudy, showers later.
- Gqeberha: 17/24°C
- East London: 19/26°C
- KwaZulu-Natal: Mostly fine.
- Durban: 17/29°C
- Richards Bay: 18/32°C
- Pietermaritzburg: 12/29°C
We will continue to update this report as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for the latest weather news and advisories.