# The South African Weather Service has dismissed a viral message warning of an extremely cold winter due to the so-called Aphelion phenomenon as false and misleading. The hoax, widely circulated on social media, claims the Earth’s distance from the sun will cause a colder-than-usual season. Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela clarified that the Aphelion, expected on 3 July, has no significant impact on temperatures or seasons:
SA Weather Service dismisses viral cold spell alert as fake news [SOUND]
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