An incoming weather system is expected to bring light snow over parts of KwaZulu-Natal early next week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said. Picture: Tiffindell Ski and Alpine Resort
An incoming weather system is expected to bring light snow over parts of KwaZulu-Natal early next week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said.
The system will start in the Western Cape and make its way to KZN by Monday, Celeste Fourie from SAWS said in a statement.
A little over 2cm of snow is expected and will continue into Tuesday over the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and southern KZN.
“After the recent snow event from September 19 to 24 that wreaked havoc on the roads between the Free State, KZN and the Eastern Cape, light snow can be expected over the Drakensberg this weekend.
"Weather conditions are expected to change significantly as an upper trough system associated with a ridging high-pressure system at the surface will introduce significant cooling over the escarpment regions of South Africa (extending from the Western Cape, up to the southern parts of KZN).
“Daytime temperatures are expected to start cooling down over the Western Cape from Sunday, reaching the Eastern Cape and KZN region by Monday.
"The expected snowfall will follow a similar trend; starting in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning and spreading eastward towards KZN on Monday morning. Snowfall is expected to clear up in the Western Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape by Monday evening,” said Fourie.
Thulasizwe Buthelezi, a member of the executive committee for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), urged residents in areas like Harry Gwala, uThukela, uMgungundlovu, and Amajuba Districts to brace for the cold weather.
“While this forecast is preliminary, further updates are expected. Residents across the province are assured that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre will continue to engage directly with stakeholders, including municipalities, through the respective District Disaster Management Centres, social partners, and government entities responsible for law enforcement, disaster response, and roads, to ensure plans are in place to deal with any eventuality should the weather conditions deteriorate."
He said residents are urged to monitor the weather forecasts through reliable sources.
The snow storm from September 19 to 24 claimed two lives and saw more than 1800 vehicles stranded for more than 48 hours, on the N3, near Van Reenen, despite weather warnings from September 18.
Professor Coleen Vogel, a climate expert at the University of Witwatersrand, said the scientific data on climate change was reason enough to heed caution.
“It is time that people take these weather warnings more seriously, especially given the work that scientists are doing to unpack and uncover the effects of climate change and the change in weather patterns that we are experiencing. That said, I think the government also needs to play its part in terms of connecting the dots in the communication line.
“With regard to the recent snow storm, it was a rare sighting. The last time I can remember something like this happening was in the early 80s. Normally this type of weather happens when cut-off low pressure systems are in the atmosphere. It either causes severe flooding or in this instance snowfall,” she said.
Vogel added it was “not normal to have this amount of snow” but it was “normal to have climate variability”.
“The variability or change in weather is now enhanced due to climate change. So people must take weather warnings more seriously or it could have dire consequences,” she warned.
SAWS has an X account, which it updates with the latest weather information, while weather outlets on social media like Snow Report or Weather SA provide updates.
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