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Brace yourselves: South Africa set for widespread snow this week
Get ready for snowfall and chilly weather! Widespread snow and a drop in temperature expected in South Africa this week.
Snow covered road over Pakhuis Pass near Clanwilliam, Western Cape after early spring snowfall, 8 April 2019. Photo: iStock/GeoffSP
Residents across South Africa and Lesotho are bracing for widespread snow and a significant drop in temperature this week.
Between 12 and 14 May 2023, as a strong cut-off low is expected to impact the Cape provinces. Here’s what you need to know:
Snow in South Africa
This is an advanced 5-day weather forecast, meaning conditions are subject to change.
That said, the current data suggests the possibility of snow at lower elevations between Friday and Monday.
Heavier snowfall may occurring in some areas, and regions where snow is expected on surrounding high grounds or peaks include:
- The Cape Winelands
- Montagu
- Uniondale
- the Swartberg range
- Sutherland
- Beaufort West
- Nieu-Bethesda
- Fraserburg
- Loxton
- Hogsback
- Molteno
- Dordrecht
- Barkly East
- Rhodes
- Lesotho
- Drakensberg
READ: KZN flood warning: Authorities on high alert amid torrential rain
Forecast details for this week
According to Vox Weather, freezing levels are anticipated to drop significantly from Friday, 12 May, into the weekend.
Light snow is expected to begin falling on Friday over the Nuweveld Mountains in the Karoo and spread to the northern high grounds of the Eastern Cape by Saturday.
However, no snow is predicted for Matroosberg Nature Reserve, with only light flurries likely over the Cederberg and Swartberg mountain peaks.
Weekend snowfall
Over the weekend, snow is expected to fall on the Roggeveld and Nuweveld mountains of the Karoo, as well as the mountainous areas of the Eastern Cape and Southern Drakensberg.
Weather models currently do not predict any ground snow for the Eastern Cape.
Most of the heavy downpours and stormy weather are expected to clear into Tuesday, leaving isolated to scattered showers over KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
