SAWS fact check: Aphelion hoax debunked
The South African Weather Service has released a statement debunking a viral message about the cold spell being caused by the Aphelion phenomenon.
A hoax message circulating on social media claims that a cold spell will affect South Africa countrywide due to the Aphelion phenomenon until August 2025.
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However, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has debunked this claim, stating that it is false and misleading.
Aphelion refers to the point in Earth's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun, expected to occur on 3 July, 2025. SAWS has, however, emphasised that this distance variation does not significantly impact temperatures or seasons in South Africa. Instead, seasons are determined by the Earth's axial tilt.
According to SAWS' seasonal climate watch, minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be above normal for most parts of the country during the winter season. While cold fronts and cut-off lows may drop temperatures, the southern coastal regions are expected to have below-normal temperatures.
The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has returned to a neutral state and is predicted to remain so, with limited influence on South Africa during the winter season.
SAWS will continue to monitor weather systems and issue updates as required.
The public is urged not to circulate misleading information and to follow SAWS' updates on X, Facebook or other social media platforms.
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