The weather services said the widespread snow predicted for the weekend could even spread to GAUTENG and the North-West next week.
LIGHT SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN GAUTENG AND NORTH-WEST
According to Vox Weather, the European ECMWF weather model is even picking up the slight possibility of a dusting of snow falling over the southern parts of North West and Gauteng.
It cautioned that the ECMWF model tends to be overconfident, and the forecast will change significantly as the COL moves over the country.
Residents of Johannesburg witnessed snow in July last year. Do you remember it?
THIS IS AN EARLY PREDICTIONS AND COULD POSSIBLY CHANGE
Furthermore, it was said that freezing levels are expected to drop significantly starting on Saturday.
Up to 10cm of widespread snow is expected in parts of South Africa, including the Cape Provinces, Lesotho and central South Africa this weekend.
“Freezing levels are expected to drop significantly from Saturday as a strong cut-off low is expected to bring rain, snow, and a significant drop in temperature across the Cape Provinces, Lesotho, central SA, and our neighboring country Namibia.”
THE FIRST SNOW WILL START FALLING ON SATURDAY
It said the first snow will start falling on Saturday around the escarpment and the high-lying areas in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, near near Molteno and Philipstown.
“This will be a mixture of snow and rain, and therefore, it might quickly melt.”
Vox Weather said a mixture of light snow and rain is possible in our neighboring country, Namibia, around Aus, Rosh Pinah, and Ai-Ais, spreading to the western and central parts of the Northern Cape.
THE COLDER WEATHER WILL SET IN LATE ON SATURDAY AND INTO SUNDAY
This includes Namakwa – and Pixley Ka Seme Municipalities and over the Nuweveld mountains in the Northern Cape).
“More snow and rain likely over the mountains in the Eastern Cape. Snow will also start falling in Lesotho and over the southern Drakensberg.
“Significant snow is already possible around Afriski in Lesotho on Sunday, continuing Monday and Tuesday.”
HERE IS HOW THE WIDESPREAD SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL
It said Monday will be a cold and snowy day in the country.
Snow will spread throughout Monday over the mountain peaks:
In the Western Cape:
- Matroosberg,
- Cederberg,
- Swartberg
In the Northern Cape:
- Nuweveld and Roggeveld mountain
- including the town of Sutherland,
- the Great Karoo
The high-lying areas in the Cape provinces:
- around Fraserburg,
- Loxton,
- Murraysburg,
- Richmond,
- Noupoort,
- Colesberg,
- Burgersdorp,
- Aliwal North,
- Molteno and surroundings.
They expect snow deeper than 10 cm on Monday
More than 10cm deep snow is possible on Monday in Lesotho, especially around Afri Ski, and between 5 – 10cm is expected over the southern Drakensberg and towns near Lesotho in the Eastern Cape. Including Barkly East.
A mixture of snow/ ice rain and sleet is now possible over southern and eastern Free State:
- Bethlehem,
- Warden,
- Heilbron,
- Reitz,
- Memel,
- Reddersburg,
- Trompsburg and surrounding towns.
It includes north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, around Postmasburg and Kuruman.
SNOW IS EVEN POSSIBLE IN BLOEMFONTEIN NEXT WEEK
Late on Monday and into Tuesday, a mixture of light snow, ice rain, and sleet can even fall south of Bloemfontein in the Free State.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, a mixture of snow and rain is possible over the southern parts of the Free State.
“More heavy snow, another 20-40 CM is mostly confined to Lesotho and southern Drakensberg is possible.”