Fake News: No Extremely Cold Weather This Weekend – Weather Service

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has dismissed circulating social media claims suggesting an upcoming countrywide cold spell caused by the so-called “Aphelion phenomenon,” labelling the message as false and misleading.

According to the viral hoax, South Africa is expected to face extremely cold temperatures until August 2025 due to Aphelion. However, SAWS has confirmed that the Aphelion – the point in Earth’s orbit when it is farthest from the Sun – does not influence seasonal temperatures. This year, Aphelion will occur on 3 July at 15:54 (SAST), and scientific research indicates that this distance variation has no significant impact on the Earth’s climate or seasons.

“The notion that Aphelion causes colder weather is completely incorrect. South Africa’s seasons are driven by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, not its proximity to the Sun,” the statement from SAWS clarified.

In their latest Seasonal Climate Watch, issued on 2 May 2025, SAWS forecasts warmer-than-normal conditions across most parts of the country for the remainder of the winter season. This means minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be higher than usual, though typical winter weather systems such as cold fronts and cut-off lows may still cause temporary temperature drops.

However, the southern coastal regions are likely to experience slightly below-normal temperatures throughout the winter months. In addition, rainfall in the southwestern and eastern coastal areas is forecast to remain below normal during early, mid-, and late winter.

SAWS also noted that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has returned to a neutral state and is expected to remain neutral for the foreseeable future. Historically, ENSO has a limited impact on South African weather during winter and is not anticipated to significantly affect this season’s patterns.

The weather authority has urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely on official platforms for accurate weather updates.

SAWS will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and issue alerts if necessary. For real-time updates, follow SAWS on X (@SAWeatherServic), Facebook (South African Weather Service), or visit the official website.